Despite the pre-season doom and gloom Ulster got their PRO12 campaign off to a winning start with a bonus point win against Ospreys. All is right again in the world of the Ulster Rugby supporter. 🙂

I dashed home after the U20’s game to watch this one, fish supper and all, and I must admit it was a thoroughly pleasant 90 odd minutes with Ulster performing much better than I expected and Ospreys considerably worse.

Quite simply Ulster were much too physical for their guests who knew they were up against it when Rob Herring threw down the gauntlet with his fifth minute try.

A penalty followed from the unlikely boot of Stuart McCloskey, who’d missed the earlier conversion, and, despite a penalty from Sam Davies, the difference in physical prowess of the two sides was ably demonstrated when young McCloskey powered through a handful of defenders to cross for Ulster’s second on the 26th minute. Nearly choked on my chips during that one!

My thoughts of a bonus point win where somewhat tempered by my memories of Ulster failing to kick on these positions last season and a second penalty from Davies, in the 35th minute, added further doubts as the 15 – 6 scoreline was a poor reflection of Ulster’s dominance.

However kick on they did when Wiehahn Herbst, making up for an indifferent performance in the scrum, crossed out wide for Ulster’s third try on the 52nd minute. McCloskey missed the difficult conversion but thanks to an earlier second half penalty Ulster were leading 23 – 6 and the result was beyond doubt.

The boot of “stand in” stand off Peter Nelson was giving Ulster control of the game and Big Nick Williams rumbled very effectively in his 56 minute cameo but the game did break down somewhat as the subs started to roll on around the sixty minute mark. A series of knocks and niggles left Ulster’s cupboard practically bare and hooker John Andrew had to come on to the wing following injuries to Andrew Trimble and Paul Marshall.

However the young Ballymena man took to it like a duck to water with his break and perfectly timed pass sending Luke Marshall through for Ulster’s bonus point try on the 78th minute.

A good night for Ulster and, with two tries and an assist, a good night for the front row union. 🙂 #SUFTUM (Fish supper was very tasty as well!)

Ulster: Louis Ludik; Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy; Peter Nelson, Paul Marshall; Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst; Dan Tuohy, Franco van der Merwe; Roger Wilson, Willie Faloon, Nick Williams. Replacements: John Andrew, Ricky Lutton, Bronson Ross, Peter Browne, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy, David Shanahan, Sam Arnold.

Ospreys: Dan Evans; Kristian Phillips, Jonathan Spratt, Ben John, Tom Grabham; Sam Davies, Tom Habberfield; Marc Thomas, Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip, Lloyd Ashley, De Kock Steenkamp, Joe Bearman, Lloyd Evans, Gareth Delve. Replacements: Scott Otten, Nicky Smith, Cai Griffiths, Rory Thornton, Dan Baker, Sam Underhill, Brendon Leonard, Ashley Beck.

Feature Photo Credit: Darren Kidd