Munster edge Ulster in thriller
MATCH REPORT: Ulster were denied an epic victory as Munster scored with the last play of the game in a Christmas cracker of an interpro at Ravenhill Stadium in Round 8 of the United Rugby Championship.
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Ulster had to play for 50 minutes with 14 players, after prop prop Tom O’Toole’s red card in the first-half and looked to have snapped their four-game losing streak as James McNabney bagged a try on 76 minutes but had to settle for a losing bonus point as Munster centre Tom Farrell crossed in the final minute.
Ulster took just eight minutes to break the deadlock as O’Toole barged over from close range.
The home side kicked a penalty to the corner, with the forwards driving for the line, and Munster stopped it illegally.
Ulster opted for a tap penalty, the visitors again infringed on their own line, from the third penalty after one phase the Ireland prop proved to powerful and grounded the ball, with John Cooney slotting over the conversion from in front of the posts.
Ulster were denied a second try on 21 minutes, from a driving maul off the lineout.
Mike Lowry went on a mazy cross-field run, however he was stopped five metres from the line.
The forwards worked the ball through multiple phases in the Munster 22 but infringed at the breakdown conceding a penalty and allowing Jack Crowley to clear his lines.
Ulster were forced into a change on 25 minutes as Rory Telfer replaced Zac Ward.
Munster opened their account three minutes later with their first attack into the Ulster 22.
From a kick by Aidan Morgan behind his own try line, Munster launched a quick counter attack, the ball was moved through the hands from east to west with Farrell sliding over in the corner, but Crowley failed to convert.
Ulster were reduced to 14 men on 31 minutes as try scorer O’Toole was given a straight red card for an illegal clear out at the ruck on Munster centre Alex Nankivell.
Ulster suffered more disruption to their backline just before the break as Irish centre Stuart McCloskey had to leave the field allowing Academy flyhalf, Jack Murphy, to make his debut.
Ulster went into the break with a slender 7-5 lead.
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Munster centre, Farrell, crossed for his second try in the 52nd minute.
Crowley put in a chip kick to Mike Haley, he flipped the ball inside to Farrell and the centre exchanged passes with Calvin Nash before sprinting over unopposed,
The TMO denied Ulster a try on in the 57th minute, after the forwards drove over from the lineout, but it was adjudged that the Munster defence stopped the grounding.
After conceding a number of penalties in their own 22, Munster replacement, Rory Scannell, was sin binned on 60 minutes.
Ulster finally turned their possession and territorial dominance into points on 65 minutes with a try from replacement Harry Sheridan.
From a lineout the forwards set up a driving maul Munster initially stopped, but Sheridan picked up from the ruck and powered over, Cooney’s conversion however, struck the upright.
Ulster’s lead was short lived, as Munster moved the ball quickly through the hands and winger Shane Daly went over in the corner. Crowley was off target with the attempted conversion.
Ulster struck with four minutes remaining as loose forward, James McNabney, burrowed over following a series of pick and goes on the Munster line by the forwards. Cooney added the conversion for the slender lead.
However, Farrell won the game for Munster with his third try in the final minute, as they produced a slick handling and the centre darted over from close range to seal his side’s bonus point.
Crowley's conversion brought the final whistle.
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Scorers:
For Ulster:
Tries: O’Toole, Sheridan, McNabney
Cons: Cooney 2
For Munster:
Tries: Farrell 3, Daly
Con: Crowley
Yellow card: Niall Scannell (Munster: 60')
Red card: Tom O’Toole (Ulster 30')
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 John Cooney, 8 Dave McCann, 7 Marcus Rea, 6 James McNabney, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Andrew Warwick.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Jack Murphy, 23 Rory Telfer.
Munster: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (captain), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Brian Gleeson.
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland), Sam Holt (Ireland)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)