URC: Ulster 49-26 – Seven-try hosts return to winning ways with thumping win

Ulster returned to winning ways with a thumping 49-26 win over Dragons in their first game since the departure of former head coach Dan McFarland.

Will Addison, Harry Sheridan and Nick Timoney also crossed for Ulster.

Dragons left with a bonus point thanks to James Benjamin, Matthew Screech and Brodie Coghlan tries and a penalty try.

John Cooney converted all seven of the Irish province’s touchdowns as his side won in the URC for the first time since New Year’s Day when they beat Leinster 22-21. Will Reed added the extras to two of the visitors’ tries.

With Dan Soper at the helm for one game before Ireland Under-20s coach Richie Murphy takes charge for the remainder of the campaign, Ulster’s victory lifted them up to fifth in the URC table, level on points as Munster and Edinburgh.

Ulster began the game full of attacking intent and were rewarded with a fifth minute try from full-back Addison.

The workload was carried by the forwards but when the ball was eventually released to the backs, the little grubber kick from Billy Burns was perfect for Addison to touch down.

The Dragons were only behind for six minutes. From a lineout ten metres out they breached Ulster’s maul defence with hooker Benjamin the beneficiary of the excellent work done by the pack. Reed made it a seven-pointer.

Ulster’s second try came from some poor Dragons tackling that allowed McCann to break their defensive line. With players left and right, McCann went right to Lowry who galloped over the line.

A series of infringements by the Dragons helped Ulster dominate possession deep in opposition territory. Eventually their pressure told when Sheridan scored the third try from close range.

The bonus point score came soon after when some simple passing pulled the Dragons out of position and Lowry made no mistake as he scored his second try of the game.

Thirty-three minutes played and Ulster were 28-7 up with the bonus point secured.

The second half began in a similar pattern but Ulster squandered a try scoring opportunity when Tom Stewart knocked the ball on when in the process of trying to ground it over the line.

A steady stream of replacements followed and the game became disjointed as a result.

It suited the Dragons and from a rare foray into the Ulster ’22’ Screech scored their second unconverted try.

Ulster soon regrouped and on a perfect night for rugby, they put the ball through the phases, allowing McCann to cross the whitewash for the fifth try.

To their credit the Welsh side kept going. They were having success with their maul and it led to a third try with replacement prop Coghlan the scorer.

Ulster would finish the game strongly. Jacob Stockdale, on as replacement, turned the Dragons over at the halfway line and the Irish winger would be involved in the move one more time as he gave the scoring pass to Timoney.

Ulster were running rampant in the closing stages. McCann scored his second try of the night and his side’s seventh as the Dragons defence was cut apart.

Cooney’s immaculate evening with the boot concluded with seven successful conversions from seven.

There was still time for the Dragons maul to cause Ulster a problem one more time.

Timoney was penalised for collapsing it on the Ulster line and a penalty try was awarded to ensure the Welsh side left Belfast with a consolation losing bonus point.

Ulster: Addison, McIlroy, Hume, Postlethwaite, Lowry; Burns, Cooney; Kitshoff, Stewart, O’Toole; Izuchukwu, Sheridan; McCann, M. Rea, Timoney.

Replacements: Andrew, Warwick, Wilson, Treadwell, Reffell, Doak, Marshall, Stockdale.

Dragons: E. Rosser, Westwood, Hughes, Owen, Baldwin; Reed, Blacker; Martínez, Benjamin, Coleman; Lonsdale, Screech; Lydiate, H. Taylor, Basham.

Replacements: Coghlan, Seiuli, Yendle, Langton-Cryer, Nott, Bertranou, Ackerman, Anderson.

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)