22 - 25

Attendance: 5,784
Friday 09/09/05
Arms PArk
KO 19.10

Blues: (12) 22: Tries: Morgan. Cons: Robinson. Pen: N Robinson 5.

Ulster: (9) 25: Tries: Bowe. Cons: Humphreys. Pens: Humphreys 5. DG: Humphreys.

Harrison the Bogey Slayer

It is all about belief and the attitude that was carried into this game by the players was self-evident right from the pre match interviews in the papers. At last an Ulster team has gone to Wales and come away with a thoroughly deserved victory against a defensively inferior Cardiff side. David Humphreys may have carved the designs in a hard granite rock that was the Ulster pack sporting the no nonsense antipodean Justin Harrison. However Humphries conspired on his own in the main to lose it early on in the second with three knockons including a forward pass to Mr No One in no man’s land. These had to be seen to believed. Rowan Frost then joined him in a cacophony of errors that made the hearts flutter and gave Cardiff hope when they should have had Bob Hope. Humphries went for the drop when it was never on, only for the resulting charge down to be flicked by Frost into a gleeful Cardiff hand and bang 7 points. The great Ulster malaise strikes again. Then on the stroke of the 80 Ulster were awarded a penalty only for Neil Best to shove a Cardiff player to protect a prostrate David Humphries, penalty reversed and Cardiff get a reprieve with seconds that seemed like hours on the clock.

"Alsterrrr...", "Aaarrgghh..."
"awwll...", "ah, hah ha ha..."

For 65 minutes of this scrappy ring rusty encounter the Ulster forwards were in the main in control. Cardiff were struggling to come to terms with the dominant kicking display of Dr Humphries but the ball was either spilled or passed forward in a succession of first game errors that took the gloss of what would otherwise have been a stylish start. Right up to half time penalties were traded until Cardiff edged ahead and were 12 - 9 in front at the interval. Paddy Wallace was steady even if unflustered under the high ball but at times showed poor decision-making in his options. At others he showed deftness of touch in his out of hand kicking and superb robustness in his dealing of the opposition in loose play. As always Paul Steinmetz showed a masterful display of composure and competence in the centre while Trimble and Bowe both had opportunities to show why both of these young players going to be major forces in Irish rugby.

The second half continued in a series of errors from both sides before Cardiff stretched the lead by 6 points leaving Ulster needing a converted try. But the high pressure and simple game plan Ulster played by using the boot of Humphries and pressure defence started to turn the tables despite the efforts of the Welsh commentators to talk Cardiff up; alas on the field they were not listening. Soon Humphries had kicked Ulster level after turning villain showing why he can win and loose games. The intensity of the pack was beginning to pay dividends and not before long Campbell exploited slack Cardiff defensive organisation by kicking into vast acres of space behind their defensive line for Bowe to race onto the ball. Like a ballet dancer he weaved his way somehow managing to stay in field up the right hand touch to show the flat footed defence a clean pair of heels, effortlessly gliding over between the posts for a seven pointer.

and the rest...all on telly!!

Soon after Humphries dropped a goal and it was game over or so we thought. That was before some of the Ulster players performed their own version of Tango in Cardiff and gifted Cardiff seven of the easiest points they will ever score. But to their credit they hung on in there and give Ulstermen something to cheer about for the second time this week. It may have lacked the passion of Windsor Park but I suspect what happened in Cardiff tonight will prove to be more significant in the months to come. The scrum was granite like in its steadfastness and the defence was creative in turning tackles into attack. McMillan was conspicuous throughout as was Maggs. Harrison again showed why he is such a big name and had an amusing little encounter with Mr Dickinson the referee, which he wisely choose not to pursue. The sheer force of presence in the tackle turned the Cardiff attack into dust. The rolling maul easily made 30 yards while Cardiff at best could muster 10. No offence but I for one am glad Neil Kelly did not get the Irish job. Those of you with a nervous disposition should look a way now. OK it was a bit uncontrolled at times but there is rumba down Ravenhill way. Maybe this team is going to realise some of its undoubted potential at long last.

Ulster: P Wallace; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, A Trimble; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best (capt), J Harrison, M McCullough, N Best, N McMillan, R Wilson.
Replacements: R Best, B Young, R Frost, C Feather, P Marshall, J Topping, A Larkin.

Blues: N Macleod; C Czekaj, R Williams (capt), T Davies, C Morgan; N Robinson, M Phillips; J Yapp, Rhys Thomas, M Jones, C Quinnell, R Sidoli, M Molitika, R Sowden-Taylor, A Powell.
Replacements: B Evans, G Williams, D Jones, M Lewis, R Powell, L Thomas, M Nuthall.

Referee: Rob Dickson (SRU).

Name			Your comments
	brehonOZ		What an enthusiastic match report! I watched the match on the 'net - roughly equivalent to reading under a blanket - and had great difficulty recognising the Antipodean despite a close acquaintance of 31 years! No doubt Justin's OZ vowels saved him from the ref's wrath - his game performance will hopefully address the supporters'. Brehon
	ken redpath		Friday night brilliant to see such enthusiasm & spirit in thereporting of the game. the branch site is still scratching its wee bits!