Ulster's European hopes plummet in Leicester cold as second-half collapse costs them dear
WHITE FRIGHTENING: Ulster stand dejected after the Investec Champions Cup match at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, Leicester. Pic: Mike Egerton/PA Wire
Despite threatening otherwise, this quickly descended into the one-sided contest many anticipated as Ulster’s Champions Cup hopes plummeted in the Leicester cold.
With temperatures reaching below zero come kick-off, Ulster had the better of the early luck, racing into a 0-10 lead in as many minutes. Tigers struck back to lead 12-10 at the break but Ulster looked like they had enough to stay in it after the break, particularly through some of their young, powerful carriers.
Once Leicester crossed first in the second half, Ulster couldn’t plug the hole. Leicester were clinical and applied ample pressure but Richie Murphy’s side will be disappointed with the series of errors which handed their opponents the victory.
Both sides spent lengthy periods on the ball in the first half. Both sides were wasteful, only Leicester marginally less so.
Ulster could’t believe their good fortune when, five minutes in, wing Josh Bassett slipped with the line at his mercy, allowing the province’s defenders to swarm and win a turnover. They could barely believe that they still had luck in the bank when, immediately after a John Cooney penalty, a woeful mix-up in the backfield saw Leicester allow a kick to bounce in their half. The sharp bounce sat up for Nick Timoney 30 metres out. No one was home and Ulster had a two-score lead.
Not for long. When Leicester worked their way up the pitch through some incisive backline play, Bassett had a chance to atone. This time, he kept his footing, narrowing the gap with a finish in the corner as Ulster were again caught narrow in defence.
Quality was lacking on both sides thereafter. Ulster’s young trio of Jude Postlethwaite, Ben Carson and James McNabey looked strong carrying into contact. Their teammates’ breakdown work when trying to shift Tommy Reffell off the ball was less impressive. Leicester’s malfunctioning lineout at least ensured there was plenty of fault on both sides.
If Leicester gifted Ulster a score to start the half, the Irish province returned the favour to end it. Zaac Ward dropped a steepling high bomb. Leicester won a scrum penalty and Pollard kicked to the corner, turning down the chance to kick the sides level.
This time, the set-piece co-operated as Julián Montoya hit his man. Leicester’s maul creeped forward, sucking in enough defenders to once again send Bassett over in the corner. The hosts had a marginal lead at the break.
That was extended eight minutes onto the second half. Leicester didn’t fix what wasn’t broke, mauling close to the Ulster line before unleashing a winger on the opposite flank. This time Hassell-Collins was the beneficiary.
Not for the first time. Just minutes later, this time a well-constructed backline move sent the England wing over. Again, it came from an Ulster mistake as Rory Telfer - on for Ethan McIlroy who suffered a nasty knee injury - spilled a kick inside his own 22. From the following scrum, Ulster were cut open in midfield, Hassell-Collins stepping the last man to score.
The procession continued. Bassett found his hat-trick score when grubbing in behind, pouncing when Ulster failed to dive on the loose ball. 120 seconds later, Ulster were again compounding errors, poor handling when playing inside their own half allowing Izaia Perese to cross for one of the easier scores of his career.
The final quarter, mercifully in a way, passed without incident. Leicester took their foot off the throat with one eye on next week’s trip to Toulouse. Ulster aren’t mathematically out of the Champions Cup running. A game at home against Exeter, also on zero points, may well help, but they need results to go their way, alongside a healthy boost to their points difference.
J Bassett (3), O Hassell-Collins (2), I Perese (1). H Pollard (2), F Steward (1) J Shillcock (1).
N Timoney (1). N Doak (1). N Doak (1).
F Steward; J Bassett, I Perese, S Kata (J Woodward 54), O Hassell-Collins; H Pollard (J Shillcock 62), J van Poortvliet (B Youngs 60); N Smith (J Whitcombe 64), J Montoya (c) (C Clare 64), J Heyes (D Cole 60); C Henderson, J Holloway (H Wells 69); F Carnduff (E Ilione 50), T Reffell, O Cracknell.
E McIlroy (R Telfer 23); W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; A Morgan (J Murphy 50), N Doak (John Cooney 56); A Warwick (E O’Sullivan 53), J Andrew (J McCormick 56), S Wilson (C Barrett 56); I Henderson (c) (K Treadwell 54), C Izuchukwu (H Sheridan 65); J McNabney, N Timoney, D McCann.
Craig Evans (Wales).
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