Ospreys 13- Ulster 16- Match report

Looking at the team sheets, you would have been forgiven to think that this game had excitement written all over it. Sadly, it didn’t transpire that way.
A crowd of over 8,000 was there to welcome the defending champions Ospreys to their first home game of the season, with the hopes of defeating the visiting Ulster. It was a cagey start from both sides, with the forwards providing the platform but neither set of backs being able to utilise it.

At times it was a comedy of errors with missed passes, knock-ons or simply passing the ball straight into touch. Niall O’Connor was to have another poor day with the boot, although he did manage to slot over a penalty to give Ulster a 3-0 lead.

In a stodgy first half it was the home side that finally sent a thrill of excitement around the Liberty Stadium. The ever aggressive Dirksen managed to break through the Ulster midfield, yet he ran away from his supporting players and when faced with two Ulster players that should have been the end of his chance. Full back Jared Payne will hope not to see the replays as Dirksen handed him off with ease to elude Marshall to cross the try line. Morgan converted.

The game stuttered on with neither side being able to add to their points total, with the half time score remaining 7 – 3 to the Ospreys.

Paddy Jackson came on fifteen minutes into the second half and took over the kicking duties from O’Connor, immediately slotting 3 points. But it was the Ospreys who had extended their lead through the boot of Morgan, and going in to the last quarter they had what appeared to be a safe gap of 13 -6, with Ulster showing no signs of being able to score.

Cue the release of players from the Ulster bench. The introduction of Afoa, Trimble and Ferris made a difference. Now it was the Ospreys that were under pressure and scrambling in defence. Discipline soon told and just before the 70th minute, Jackson cut the lead to 13-9. Now the Ospreys were doing their best to hold on for the win.

Ulster continued their charge, but the Ospreys held firm and managed to stop prop Afoa just short of the line. It seemed they had done enough, but scrum half Marshall saw the opportunity and scooped up the ball to dive over the ruck to score. Jackson converted.

With five minutes remaining on the clock the defending champions now trailed 13-16 and try as they might they could make no inroads into the Ulster defence, who managed to see out the game for the win.

“I’m very relieved to come away with the win. It’s never easy to go to Swansea and come away with four points but we’ve achieved that so we have to be pleased. We didn’t play well for 65 minutes but I thought we played very well in the last quarter of an hour and it was great to get the win in the end,”.

“I was disappointed with the performance in the first 65 minutes. We didn’t look after the ball well enough, we were turned over a lot and we didn’t play territory like we had talked about. We seemed happy to amble through the game and I thought we generally lacked a bit of fizz and didn’t show enough purpose.”

“The scrums were very good in the second half; Nigel [Brady], John [Afoa] and Tom [Court] were very strong and put their front row under pressure. Allen Clarke has done a lot of work on our set piece and we are reaping the rewards,”

“There is plenty to improve on for next week. Every team will be looking to improve week on week and we’re no different. We will have a couple more guys back in the old and that will help but we have to be patient and we will get there.”

maestegmafia wrote:Well done RD lovely write up.

The Attendence figures were good, 8556 passed at the gate.

TropicalHotdog wrote:Cheers, Notch.

Ospreys certainly have some good deals going!

Sounds like a decent gate anyway and some of the 'freebie' fans may stay on if they have a good day out.