Connacht stun Ulster to boost playoff hopes with fourth-win-in-a-row

STAR MAN: Connacht's Bundee Aki after the game. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O’Hanlon.

Ulster 19 Connacht 26

Connacht stunned Ulster in Belfast to fully deserve their bonus point result and make it four victories on the bounce for Stuart Lancaster’s side to boost their play-off hopes.

Two second half tries from winger Finn Treacy helped seal this interprovincial for the westerners with scores also coming from Finlay Bealham who was yellow carded at the end of the first half and Sean Jansen who surged over in the 19th minute.

Connacht’s bench impressed with Ben Murphy and Josh Ioane having a big impact, along with big displays from skipper Cian Prendergast and Bundee Aki helped them towards a victory which was hugely celebrated by those in green.

That there was plenty at stake ahead of kick-off certainly wasn’t in doubt. Ulster looking to push on towards guaranteeing a play-off spot – a distant cry from last season when they tanked and ended up a lowly 14th – while Connacht needing results to elbow their way into the top eight.

This interprovincial certainly came well equipped with edge when it came to what both sides required and Connacht having Bundee Aki, Cian Prendergast, Finlay Bealham and Darragh Murray all starting made it clear that the westerners were going after this visit to Belfast.

The game opened with a number of high-profile errors from the hosts who lost Michael Lowry on four minutes for an HIA after being run over by Finn Treacy.

Indeed, it took until Zac Ward being emptied into touch which was followed by a bit of grappling between both sides just to up the ante.

That incident led to a penalty for Ulster which Murphy put deep into Connacht’s 22. Ulster threw to McCann but lost the lineout before getting the ball back shortly afterwards and though the home team kept possession for a while they got nowhere and Jack Murphy ended up throwing the ball forward.

McIlroy lost the ball deep in Ulster territory when tackled by Colm Reilly and it took an intercept from Zac Ward to halt a dangerous looking Connacht attack with the westerners at this point looking the most likely to break the deadlock.

Indeed, Jack Carty’s clean beak then nearly resulted in Aki getting over but Ulster were pinged and when Connacht tapped the penalty, Jansen driving through and Carty converting.

Ulster struck back on 23 minutes, Bryn Ward, on for Rea, smashed Carty as he advanced down the right and his pass put Doak in space and the scrum half stepped Shane Jennings to score under the posts.

Doak converted and the scored were tied after 23 minutes.

The stalemate continued, Ulster even trying a variation with a chip over the top and though Jacob Stockdale managed to force a knock-on from Cian Prendergast, the hosts failed to advance the scoreboard.

Then, with half-time fast approaching, Finlay Bealham was shown a yellow card after hitting Tom Stewart high though Ulster failed to take immediate advantage as Aki won a penalty off Iain Henderson and the half ended with the sides locked together at seven points apiece.

Ulster left the field knowing that they had to make the extra man advantage count and as soon as possible when the sides returned.

An early penalty for Ulster from a scrum was put the corner only for Ulster to lose the ball when moving it off a maul which wasn’t shifting and it took a lengthy sprint and save from McCann to rescue a dangerous situation from a hack downfield.

The situation got even worse on 47 minutes when a break from Werner Kok which ended up with Doak was then knocked on when the scrum half supplied Ben Carson with a scoring pass.

Connacht sensed there was a chance to have a go at this game and after a strong attack, Bealham drove over from close range on 56 minutes after Treacy was held short.

Carty converted and now the westerners led 14-7.

Connacht then scored again, moving the ball left, David Heffernan supplying the scoring pass for Treacy who made it at the corner from a great counter.

Naughton missed the tricky effort from the tee, but Connacht now led 19-7.

Zac Ward got five back for Ulster on 64 minutes when he bamboozled Sean Naughton after being supplied by Stockdale. However, Murphy missed the difficult extras.

The response then came from the visitors. Again, moving the ball at pace, Treacy, over on the right, bounced two defenders and ran through for his second of the evening to stun Ulster.

With five left, Ulster won a penalty and on advantage, Angus Bell scrambled over the line, Murphy converting and though they were pressing at the end, Connacht held on to deserve their victory.

Ulster: M Lowry, W Kok, J Stockdale, B Carson, Z Ward, J Murphy, Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, S Wilson, I Henderson, J Hopes, D McCann, M Rea, J Augustus.

Replacements: R Herring for Stewart (57), S Crean for Bell (57), Bell for Crean (72), T O’Toole for Wilson (50), M Dalton for Henderson (54), B Ward for Rea (21-31, 50), C McKee for Doak (61), J Scott for McIlroy (61), E McIlroy for Lowry (4).

Connacht: S Naughton, S Jennings, C Forde, B Aki, F Treacy, J Carty, C Reilly; B Bohan, D Heffernan, F Bealham, J Joyce, D Murray, J Murphy, C Prendergast, S Jansen.

Replacements: M Victory for Heffernan (61), P Dooley for Bohan (61), S Illo for Jansen (41-47), P Boyle for Murphy, B Murphy for Reilly (50), J Ioane for Carty (50), J Devine for Aki (76).

Referee: M Adamson (SRU).