Ulster got the 2016 – 17 season off to the best of starts, scoring five tries in a bonus point win against the Dragons at Ravenhill on Friday night. 

Youngsters Robert Lyttle and Jacob Stockdale touched down in the first half with Lyttle adding his second before an emotional Ruan Pienaar crossed to wrap up the bonus point, Rob Herring completed the scoring. Pienaar had a disappointing night from the boot only converting two from five, thank goodness he’s leaving! (Joke, joke ffs! 😯 ) 

In reality, “The Original Golden Balls” (© Tommy Bowe & Dan Tuohy), did what he always did and dragged Ulster into the game after a slow start from the home team which saw them trail 0 – 8 after an early penalty by Nick Macleod and a well worked twelfth minute try by Pat Howard.

A midfield turnover by Ulster led to a typical Pienaar break round the outside of the mid field and a little grubber was, eventually, collected by Lyttle (on for injured Gilroy) to dot down in the corner. Pienaar converted to take the game to 7 – 8 after a first quarter dominated by the Dragons. 

The first half remained scrappy but the momentum was swinging Ulster’s way and Stockdale made it count, collecting his own grubber to score in the opposite corner to give Ulster a 12 – 8 lead after 28 minutes and that’s the way it remained until the break. 

The match improved somewhat after the restart, Pienaar once again leading the way with a trademark charge down try as Dragons struggled to clear their line. Big slap of the crest on his chest after he dotted down this true Ulster man will surely be missed.

No luck with the conversion but it did give us a chance to see Davy Wilson’s dodgy artwork on his, “Ruan To Go, Ulster Says No” banner!  😛 

It remained 17 – 8 for some time but up popped Charles Piutau to draw the defence and send Lyttle over in the corner. the youngster still had plenty of work to do but he showed composure beyond his years to complete a spectacular dive for the corner. 

Bonus point secured the game was effectively over but the Ulster forwards decided to get in on the act, driving Herring over with a successful catch and drive after a couple of failed earlier attempts. Pienaar slotted this one over and the bench was emptied for the closing minutes. 

Final Score: Ulster 26 Dragons 8. 

Ulster: Charles Piutau, Craig Gilroy, Stuart Olding, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Brett Herron, Ruan Pienaar, Callum Black, Rob Herring, Ross Kane, Pete Browne, Franco vd Merwe, Clive Ross, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson. Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Andrew Warwick, Alan O’Connor, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, Sam Windsor, Robert Lyttle.

I’d predicted a bonus point win and that’s what we got but it was a scrappy enough performance from Ulster. Players of note include Ross Kane who did well and worked hard to stay on the pitch despite a few knocks, Clive Ross covered a lot of ground in the back row and Lyttle, Stockdale and Piutau all lived up to expectations. However the Front Row Union Man of the Match goes to Ruan Pienaar after dragging Ulster through another match! 

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Images courtesy of Ian Humes Photography