Ulster gain valuable away win

Cardiff 22 Ulster 25

Ulster ended a nine-match run of away defeats and won at Cardiff Arms Park for the first time in the Celtic League but creative rugby was almost entirely lacking in two nervy teams.

Both sides relied on the boot, not merely on the scoreboard, but as their principle attacking tactic.

The visitors, who picked up four points without playing last weekend under the League’s new rule, will be happy enough but the pressure is already mounting on the coach of the under-achieving Blues Dai Young.

The penalties came thick and fast. Blues fly-half Nicky Robinson slotted over three in the first quarter, only for opposite number David Humphreys to equalise each time.

The lines were rarely threatened, although a break by Ulster full-back Paddy Wallace saw Australian lock Justine Harrison held up just short.

New Blues scrum-half Mike Phillips and wing Craig Morgan combined to halt a touchline gallop by Tommy Bowe before the lively Phillips produced a midfield charge and kick which needed the alert Paul Steinmetz to rescue the visitors.

With flanker Maama Molitika dominating at the tail of the lineout, the Blues took control in the closing stages of the half, but had to settle for another Robinson penalty, this time from 50 yards.

The home fly-half began the second period in similar fashion, but Humphreys responded with two more penalties to level the scores again.

Inevitably, when a try finally arrived it was a kick, which produced it.

A chip from the base of a scrum by Kieran Campbell wrong-footed Morgan, allowing Bowe to benefit from a favourable bounce and evade helpless full-back Nick Macleod to score under the posts for Humphreys to convert.

The veteran Irish pivot extended the visitors’ lead with a neat drop-goal before a Rhys Williams interception – from a charged-down kick, of course - brought a late try for Morgan. Robinson’s touchline conversation was no real consolation.