Warriors win the away war
Sat, 03 May 2008 21:36
After a closely contested match Ulster finally conceded a home defeat, 24-35, to Glasgow Warriors in a Magners League match at Ravenhill on Saturday.
Ulster coach Matt Williams had seen his team score four straight wins at Ravenhill, but the Warriors will take the points from an end-of-season affair in which both sides were playing pride only.
The game started with an Ulster line-out. Then a dropped ball by Ulster lead to a scrum - which started of Glasgow's way, but ended with a penalty kick to Ulster.
Ulster, looking strong with fluid passing, continued to push Glasgow back into their own half, but a defensive Glasgow unrelentingly fought back in a battle which ultimately lead to a Glasgow breakaway try by No.14 Lome Fa'atau. The conversion by Glasgow's Dan Parks saw Warriors take a 7-0 lead.
A penalty in favour of Glasgow for off-side, kicked by Parks, placed the Warriors 10 points clear of Ulster within the first ten minutes of the first half.
Ulster then went on the attack and fought back hard.
With a good line-out Ulster gained control, then an Ulster penalty kick leading to an Ulster line-out - which continued to provide a sound base for Ulster's attack.
The pressure turned into points, a try by Ulster No.9 Isaac Boss. No.10 Paddy Wallace added the conversion to narrow the gap to just three points - 7-10.
Strong play by both sides persisted, with possession constantly changing hands.
Ulster produced a powerful charge, with No.8 Roger Wilson going over for another try. Wallace failed to add the conversion, but Ulster went ahead 12–10.
Two Glasgow line-outs saw No.8 Johnnie Beattie run over for another Warriors try with 12 minutes to go in the first half. Parks missed conversion - leaving the Scottish side 15-12 ahead at the break.
The second half kicked off with both sides looking tough and grappling for control.
Glasgow opened the scoring three minutes into the second half when centre Max Evans went over for a try and Parks added the conversion to put the visitors 10 points clear again - 22-12.
They took that lead into the final quarter, before a yellow card to Moray Low reduced Glasgow to 14 men.
Ulster now pushed hard for a score, with wing Simon Danielli going over for a well-worked try. Wallace was wide with the conversion, but a Tommy Bowe try two minutes later - along with the conversion by Wallace - saw Ulster take a two-point lead, 24-22.
Parks slotted a penalty in the 67th minute to put the visitors ahead again (25-24), as the two teams' fortunes continued to fluctuate.
Ulster launched a number of raids, which were all met with some string resistance from a solid Glasgow defence.
And seven minutes from time the visitors took the match beyond the Irish province when wing Thomas Evans went over and Parks converted - 32-24.
Now ahead two scores Glasgow went for the kill, but received another yellow card - John Barclay the culprit.
Despite being a man down Glasgow had the final say on the scoreboard when Parks kicked a penalty right on full-time to make it 35-24.
The scorers:
For Ulster:
Tries: Boss, Wilson, Danielli, Bowe
Cons: Wallace 2
For Glasgow Warriors:
Tries: Fa'atau, Morrison, Max Evans, Thom Evans
Cons: Parks 3
Pens: Parks 3
Yellow cards: Moray Low (Glasgow Warriors, 59), John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors, 77)
The teams:
Ulster: 15 Mark Bartholomeusz, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Andrew Trimble, 12 Rob Dewey, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Roger Wilson, 7 Neil Best, 6 Matt McCullough, 5 Justin Harrison, 4 Carlo Del Fava, 3 Tom Court, 2 Rory Best, 1 Justin Fitzpatrick.
Replacements: 16 Nigel Brady, 17 Bryan Young, 18 Ryan Caldwell, 19 Kieran Dawson, 20 Kieran Campbell, 21 Niall O'Connor, 22 Mark McCrea.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 Lome Fa'atau, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Thom Evans, 10 Dan Parks (c), 9 Colin Gregor, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Dan Turner, 4 Opeta Palepoi, 3 Moray Low, 2 Dougie Hall, 1 Justin Va'a.
Replacements: 16 Eric Milligan, 17 Andy Newman, 18 Kevin Tkachuk, 19 James Eddie, 20 Sam Pinder, 21 Scott Barrow, 22 Hefin O'Hare.
Referee: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Touch judges: David Keane (Ireland), P Haycock (Ireland)
