Mikey Lowry's dancing feet inspire Ulster to victory over Dragons
It was the speed and elusiveness of Ulster's Mikey Lowry that caused the most damage to Dragons. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady
Twinkle-toed Mikey Lowry ensured Ulster rediscovered the winning feeling as he set up two tries in a much-needed bonus-point victory over the Dragons to kick-start the new BKT URC season.
After their fall from grace last season, when they lost their last four games, slumped from sixth to 14th and failed to qualify for the Champions Cup for the first time in their history. Ulster needed a positive start to the new campaign.
What they got was a huge slap in the face as they conceded their first try of the season a mere 10 seconds from the kick off. Angus O’Brien sent it high to edge of the home 22 in front of the posts, as players from both sides rose to contest the ball went loose and Wales back row man Aaron Wainwright hacked on and regathered to dive over.
What a sucker punch! Tinus de Beer, one of 14 summer recruits for the Dragons this summer, added the extras and the Welsh side, who only won their opening game last season and failed to win any of the other 17, were off to a flier.
Dragons head coach Filo Tiatia may have wished the season could end there, but that was just the start of a six try first half that saw Ulster fightback to bag a bonus point by the break. The visitors may have fashioned a second through wing Jared Rosser, but other than that it was all Ulster after that early mishap.
While Cormac Izuchukwu shone up front, picking up the equalising try in the 11th minute, it was the speed and dancing feet of Mikey Lowry that caused most of the damage behind. Twice he made the running for tries out in the wide spaces after Nick Tierney had driven over from close range just short of the half-hour mark.
Doak’s conversion made it 14-14 before Lowry went to work. His first burst ended with David McCann scoring and then he gave Zac Ward the chance to dive in at the right corner. Doak improved both scores and it was 28-14 at the break.
Things calmed down a little in the second half, although not until Doak had profited from a blindside raid two minutes after the re-start and crossed for a try that he also converted to take his personal tally to 15 points.
To their credit, the Dragons kept battling back and Shane Lewis-Hughes grabbed their third try in the 50th minute. De Beer converted and they were unlucky to have Wyn Jones held up over the line and then Rhodri Williams denied a potential bonus point try for an alleged forward pass.
Tom Stewart then ensured it was six of the best for Ulster when he stole away from a driving line out maul in the 84th minute to send everyone home happy.
Tries: C Izuchukwu, N Tierney, D McCann, Z Ward, N Doak; Cons: N Doak 5, J Flannery, T Stewart.
Tries: A Wainwright, J Rosser, S Lewis-Hughes; Cons: T de Beer 3
M Lowry; Z Ward, J Hume, S McCloskey (B Carson 70), J Stockdale; Jack Murphy (J Flannery 74), N Doak (C McGee 67); C Reid (S Crean 57), R Herring (T Stewart 57), T O’Toole (S Wilson 53), I Henderson (captain, M Dalton 62), H Sheridan, C Izuchukwu, N Timoney, D McCann (J Augustus 57)
A O’Brien (co-captain); R Dyer, J Westwood (H Anderson 49), A Owen, J Rosser (F Inisi 28); T de Beer, R Williams (C Hope 83); W Jones (R Martinez 53), E Dee (B Coghlan 26), R Hunt (D Lewis 53), M Screech (L Douglas 62), B Carter (co-captain), S Lewis-Hughes, H Keddie (M Martin 57), A Wainwright
G Colby (South Africa)
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