Drizzling in the mud

It is always going to be a potent mixture when you get a Welsh team playing at Ravenhill and a Scottish referee. The Welsh using very streetwise tactics to stem the Ulster flow and a referee for whom no more excuses will suffice. Yet again the negative endorsements of Scottish referees from Gerry Thornley are brought to the forefront of the rugby paying minds. This was in evidence with the Dragons taking full advantage. It is sad that the referee should be the highlight but not taking away from the heroics of the Dragons and the efforts of Ulster. For at times it was dangerous as Changalang lost control in a bad tempered second half while his touch judge waltzed the sideline oblivious to the misdemeanours. If he had been consistent it would have been bad enough but he was simply out of his depth in this type of professional match. A Welsh referee would have been so much better and maybe even competent and I doubt if there would have been a peep out of the Ulster management. Indeed one was requested.

But don’t you just love it when a Welsh team comes to town there is always guaranteed to be a bit of controversy. It gets the Ravenhill crowd going and gets rid of the necessary spleen before we can all go home and be good citizens again. Remember the last two visits of the Scarlets? Well the Dragons were no different. It started the way it was meant to continue with the usual Harrison and McCullough baiting. Throw in a hesitant referee and a bit of a gale to take the bite out of an Ulster performance. It did not start well for Ulster who played into the wind in the first when the always-enthusiastic Maxwell dropped a pass in front of his posts and gave away the penalty for Warlow to slot the points. But then the pressure was applied and saw Ulster dominance for most of the rest of the half resulting in tries for Bryn Cunningham, Jonny bell and Tommy Bowe with the bonus point looking to be on in the second. However a bit of sloppy defending by Ulster and lack of will to take the high ball allowed Jones to dash in and take the honours for Warlow to convert leaving the halftime score Ulster 21 : 10 Dragons.

It looked like a romp in the park for the second after facing an ever-increasing wind. The next quarter was spent on the Dragons line and they were only spare by brave defending of the highest standard and streetwiseness that Ulster at times will do well to emulate from time to time. They played the indecision of Changalang to the limit. Time and time again they prevented quick ball by scragging at Boss illegally dragging him into the ruck. Time and time again they were penalised and had 2 played binned but their line held intact. Typically Ulster mauled very well giving excellent protection to the ball only for Dragons players to enter from the side and drag it down notably the scrum half Baber. He smacked Matty McCullough in the face while Justin Harrison was continually tackled in the air as was McCullough. As he had done when a Glasgow player danced on Girvan Dempsey’s head last season the same Changalang stood by. Paul Steinmetz was high tackled in an incident that will probably end his season while Harrison traded blows in a clash of the heavy weights. Baber failed to see the error of his ways just like a certain Llanelli prop. He was seen spitting abuse at the Ulster management and last seen exchanging heated views with Dr Irwin at the end of the match. What is it with Welsh teams? Penalty tries have been awarded for less as epitomised by an Edinburgh try a few weeks ago. But full credit to Dragons as their line held intact.

In these sorts of cases the usual outcome is that eventually the attackers wilt with the defenders then dashing gallantly to score and win the game. Not really but almost; indeed Dragons did score the try, which was reward for their defensive heroics via Luscombe, but it was right at the very end and salvaged a losers bonus whilst Ulster will have to make do with the winners spoils content in the knowledge that they have completed the double over another team from Wales brisling with internationals. No doubt disappointed about not picking up the 4 try bonus but 4 points will do nicely. The weather was a significant factor in handling errors with the wind and the rain pelting down at the end. It could also prove to be a expensive victory with injuries to Paul Steimetz and Bryan Young.

However it puts Ulster clear at the top of the league with the Munster game postponed and Llanelli now 4 matches behind the rest in terms of matches played. So much for the Powergen Cup; it looks like a backlog of games for the Welsh clubs at the end of the season and certainly the weather did not do Munster’s HEC preparation any good. Welsh pride has taken a bit of a battering after winning the Grand Slam and doing well in the Celtic League. This season they beat the Italians at home; just. In the Celtic League they could still do well providing they take maximum points. Richard Burton was famously said that if you gave a Welshman an exit he would make a mess of it. Time to cue the Welsh rugby management the press and Mike Ruddock. Wales within 12 months have imploded with no manager and seemingly not many looking for the job. The Powergen has been a bit of piffle with the English putting out development sides and the crowds disappointing. And still no agreement on next year’s Celtic League. Now the HEC is also in a bit of doubt with the French under Serge Blanco and the English clubs wishing to make it harder for Celtic clubs to qualify. Add in to the mix a disjointed season with no apparent logical structure and the pit of doom is on the radar. Did I hear someone say that all this money would be good for the game? It might be when all of this mess is sorted out.

But there were a lot of highlights in today’s game. Such as the performance of the Ulster 8 with Justin Harrison yet again showing why he should be an Ulsterman. David Humphries is back to something like his best. Although he has not yet signed a new contract it is hopeful. Isaac Boss and Stephen Ferris again proved they are knocking on Eddie’s door. Roger Wilson was again bullocking his way across any gain line you chose to mention. But it depends if the Irish management are listening or even care. Neil Best is continually achieving the high stands he has set himself. Pity the referees cannot do the same before someone is hurt and a player’s career lies in tatters.

Ulster: B Cunningham; T Bowe, J Bell, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best; J Harrison, M McCullough; N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson.Replacements: N Brady, J Fitzpatrick, R Caldwell, N McMillan, K Campbell, A Larkin, K Maggs.

Dragons (from): Aled Thomas, Gareth Chapman, Richard Fussell, Nathan Brew, Hal Luscombe, Ceri Sweeney, Jon Bryant, Craig Warlow, Gareth Baber, James Ireland, Adam Black, David Maddocks, Steve Jones, Andy Brown, Rhys Thomas, Chris Anthony, Luke Charteris, Bryn Griffiths, Peter Sidoli, Andrew Hall, Jamie Ringer, Jason Forster (c), Rhys Oakley, Shawn Van Rensburg.

Referee: Malcolm Changleng (SRU).
Touch Judges: J Carvill (IRFU), L Colgan (IRFU)

Your comments
Name			Your comments
	Brehon		When we edit the weather, referees, ground condition, crowd, injuries from any analysis of a team's performance we are left with but one ingredient - the collective grit of individuals. Well done blokes - by gee those second rowers are feisty! Thank you Colin for enabling us to re-visit the match.