Ulster pay penalty as Blues boost Heineken hopes

Cardiff Blues 19 Ulster 9

CARDIFF BLUES improved their chances of qualifying for next year’s Heineken Cup as Ulster’s poor away form in the Magners League continued.

Indiscipline cost Ulster dearly in a dour encounter, the game’s only try coming when they were reduced to 13 men.

For New Zealander Xavier Rush, it at least meant victory in his 100th appearance for the Blues before he joins Ulster for next season.

The first half was a mish-mash of aimless kicking and handling errors.

Blues full-back Ben Blair and Ulster fly-half Niall O’Connor exchanged early penalties — each missed one as well — but there was precious little excitement for the disappointing crowd.

Ulster’s strength at scrum and breakdown gave them most of the territory, while Blues centres Casey Laulala and Tom Shanklin produced the only real breaks, before Wales international Shanklin suffered a knock after half an hour and was forced to leave the field.

The Blues were rewarded for their greater ambition when Blair kicked two more penalties just before the break.

There was some more urgency about the home side’s play on the restart, with prop Taufa’ao Filise leading the way, but it was Ulster who claimed the first points in the second period when O’Connor kicked a mighty penalty from halfway.

Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny was short with an attempt from even further as the boot continued to dominate, and Blair missed another after Ulster saw lock Ryan Caldwell sent to the sin-bin for handling in the ruck.

Blair struck a post from long range before Ulster had a second player yellow-carded, centre Darren Cave going for a blatant trip in midfield.

The visitors were doubly punished, Blair sending the resultant penalty to the corner and replacement flanker Maama Molitika crashing over from the line-out. Blair converted.

Molitika was held up just short as the Blues tried to capitalise on their two extra men, but it was Ulster who scored next with another long-range kick from O’Connor.

Blair kicked his fourth penalty just as Ulster were returned to full strength, and the game stuttered to its conclusion.

Cardiff Blues scorers: Tries: Molitika. Cons: Blair. Pens: Blair 4.

Ulster scorers: Pens: O’Connor 3.

CARDIFF BLUES: Blair, Halfpenny, Laulala, Shanklin, T. James, Sweeney, Rees, Jenkins, Thomas, Filise, Morgan, Tito, A. Powell, M. Williams, Rush.

Replacements: Hewitt for Shanklin (31), Pretorius for Morgan (56), Molitika for A. Powell (60).

ULSTER: Smith, Trimble, Cave, Wallace, Danielli, O’Connor, P. Marshall, Court, Best, Botha, Tuohy, Caldwell, Ferris, Pollock, Henry.

Replacements: Nagusa for Danielli (76), D. Fitzpatrick for Court (58), Brady for Best (72), O’Donoghue for Tuohy (48).

Referee: Neil Patterson (RFU).