Cardiff spoil Humphreys's party
Fri, 09 May 2008 23:48
David Humphreys' 163rd and final appearance for Ulster lasted only nine minutes at Ravenhill on Friday, as his Achilles tendon injury got the better of him and the Cardiff Blues won 26-17 to cement their place in second position in the final Magners League table.
Humphreys was accompanied on to the field by his children James and Katie and he was given a rapturous reception by the home fans.
Maama Molitika's fourth-minute try put the Blues ahead, but Tommy Bowe (10th minute) and Simon Danielli (40th minute) scores put Ulster 12-7 up at the break.
Roger Davies (44th minute) and James Down (47th minute) were gifted further Blues tries and while Paddy Wallace replied for Ulster in the 65th minute, Molitika's second touchdown a minute from time sealed Cardiff's win.
In addition to Humphreys' retirement, it was also a night when Ulster bade farewell to departing players Justin Harrison, Bowe, Neil Best, Roger Wilson and Mark Bartholomeusz.
Scorers:
Ulster:
Tries: Bowe, Danielli, Wallace
Con: Wallace
Cardiff Blues:
Tries: Molitika 2, Roger Davies, Down
Cons: Halfpenny 3
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Mark Bartholomeusz, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Trimble, 12 Rob Dewey, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 David Humphreys, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Kieron Dawson, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Ryan Caldwell, 4 Justin Harrison, 3 Tom Court, 2 Rory Best (captain), 1 Bryan Young,
Replacements: 16 N Brady, 17 Justin Fitzpatrick, 18 Matt McCullough, 19 Neil Best, 20 Paul Marshall, 21 Paddy Wallace, 22 Mark McCrea.
Cardiff Blues: 15 Nick Macleod, 14 Roger Davies, 13 Marc Stcherbina, 12 Dafydd Hewitt, 11 Leigh Halfpenny, 10 Nicky Robinson, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Xavier Rush (captain), 7 Ben White, 6 Maama Molitika, 5 Scott
Morgan, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Gary Powell, 2 Gareth Williams, 1 Taufa'ao Filise.
Replacements: 16 John Yapp, 17 T Rhys Thomas, 18 James Down, 19 Mark Lewis, 20 Rhys Shellard, 21 Jason Spice, 22 Dai Flanagan.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU)
Touch Judges: E O'Dowd (IRFU), M Gargan (IRFU)
