Ulster Match Report
By jeremy ogaribaldi
April 8 2013
Twickenham yesterday was a fantastic experience. Normally a pain to get to, my trains all clicked and I even got a seat from Waterloo. I was joined in the carriage by a number of Ulster lads, one of whom was almost falling asleep, having had 2 hours sleep. More Ulster lads were around on the walk and around the stadium, making it feel a bit like the Clermont game. My ticket was the best ever, only around 20 seats away from Nigel. The anticipation was all around the ground; too close to call was the majority opinion. I would say that 70% of the ground were supporting Ulster.
The game started well enough for Sarries and quickly the wolf defence had its first victim as Marshall was stripped of the ball in midfield and Farrell took it up. Ashton got the ball and almost made it to the line. Ulster’s defence was not altogether in place and it seemed that a try would be coming when Borths knocked on. Fortunately for Sarries, Pointe was playing an advantage for offside and a simple 3 points was taken by Farrell.
Ulster started to turn the screw at the scrummage and started winning a number of penalties in the match. It was pretty well the only thing they were winning, as Sarries and Borths in particular was cleaning up at the lineout. Fortunately for Sarries, there were a lot more line-outs than scrums. Ulster soon got a kickable penalty to draw level, but the game was quite cagey. Both sides were kicking quite a lot to get territory and it was Ulster who seemed to be slightly better off. However a great kick-chase let to a penalty for holding on and Farrell kicked into a 6-3 advantage.
Ulster came back and won some kickable penalties of their own. The first was in the middle on the 10 yard line; one that Farrell would probably have kicked, but Pienaar missed. A little later on another scrum around the 10 yard line resulted in another penalty. Pienaar hit the crossbar (no £250,000 for him though) and as the ball came back Sarries were not too clever in clearing up. They secured the ball but instead of getting it back gave away a penalty for hanging on. From pretty close range Pienaar didn’t miss a third time. 6-6
From the restart an Ulster howler; Payne tried to get the ball wide and only succeeded in getting it into touch. They say it came off Ernst following up, but I didn’t see it as it was on the far side. From the line-out there was a move straight off the training ground. The ball went to the back and was then dropped down in the middle where the maul started to move quickly. Ulster tried the disengaging defence, but not all of them responded and Sarries were able to maul and started to build up a head of steam. They went over with Fraser at the back. It went to TV, but there didn’t seem in much doubt in the players minds as Ulster trooped under the posts, Farrell lined up the kick and Sarries went back to halfway.
Once given and converted Sarries began to take control of the last minutes of the half and another excellent kick-chase won a penalty. Even the mountain of a man that is Williams could not deal with a pack of wolves and from the award, Farrell increased the lead to 16-6. The break was very enjoyable; chatting to the Ulster lads who were very talkative if not very happy. I agreed it was still close and didn’t deserve to be a 10 point lead. They kept assuring me (and probably themselves) that Ulster were a second half team
The second half started as well as the first with Sarries opening up the gap even further to 19-6 with another Farrell penalty for offside. Ulster started to put the pressure up another gear and ran the ball from everywhere. Sarries defence was holding up very well, but the odd lapse or little worked overlap would often gain Ulster 30 yards at a stroke. Such an instance happened after 50 minutes, when Henderson twisted out of a couple of tackles and made inroads into the 22. Sarries were able to cover back and stem the advance but a penalty for offside was easily converted by Pienaar to bring the gap back to 10 points. Ulster started to get the game going and it picked up in intensity. Sarries used this time to make a number of substitutions
However, the wolf pack was back again as Rees Gill fell on a loose ball. He combined with Alex Goode who jinked into the gap before releasing Ashton who had popped up out of nowhere. He turned on the pace to run round the last two defenders before scoring with the trademark swallow dive. Cue erupting Sarries supporters; essentially the game was over. Farrell missed the conversion, but a 15 point gap wasn’t going to be closed.
With only 10 minutes or so to go Ulster tried harder, but the defence was rock solid. To be honest Ulster had not looked like scoring all game and with 5, then 3 minutes to go, the game was over. One last hurrah as the ball made its way to the wing where Henderson finished off a good move and scored in the corner. Pienaar managed to score the conversion, but the game was over. Sarries ambled to the kick-off and Poite didn’t ask them to do so, blowing the final whistle.
So back in 3 weeks and a day for Toulon. I’m feeling pretty confident if we play like we did today
Saracens (16) 27
- Tries: Fraser, Ashton
- Cons: Farrell
- Pens: Farrell 5
Ulster (6) 16
- Try: Henderson
- Con: Pienaar
- Pens: Pienaar 3
Saracens: Goode; Ashton, J Tomkins, Barritt, Strettle; Farrell, Wigglesworth; Vunipola, Brits, Stevens, Borthwick, Hargreaves, Brown, Fraser, Joubert.
Replacements: Hodgson for J. Tomkins (74), Wyles for Strettle (66), de Kock for Wigglesworth (51), Gill for Vunipola (57), Smit for Brits (60), Du Plessis for Stevens (77), Botha for Hargreaves (57), Wray for Fraser (74).
Ulster: Payne; Trimble, Cave, L Marshall, Gilroy; Jackson, Pienaar; Court, Best, Afoa, Muller, Tuohy, Henderson, Henry, Williams.
Replacements: Bowe for Cave (58), Olding for L. Marshall (68), Diack for Muller (64).
Not Used: Herring, Black, Lutton, McComish, P. Marshall.
Att: 37,888
Ref: Romain Poite (France).
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Thanks Jeremy for the match report, bring on Toulon!
Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2013:04:16:14:25:45 by TonyTaff.
It's a long time since Sports network paid anything!
