Match Report: Leinster Rugby 19-6 Ulster Rugby

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[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... _badge.png[/tag][tag=content]Ulster put in a poor performance for the second week running and left the RDS Arena with nothing to show for their efforts after a 19-6 defeat to Leinster, who leapfrog them in the table.

Four Jimmy Gopperth penalties and a try from man of the match Jordi Murphy were enough to see of Ulster who scored all of their points in the first half through the boot of Paddy Jackson.

In truth, Ulster were never at their best and deserved to leave with nothing as they were outclassed by a Leinster side who made sure that they did not lose three on the bounce after defeats to Northampton and Edinburgh.

The game started brightly for Ulster after Leo Cullen knocked the ball on from Paddy Jackson’s kick off, and the Ulstermen squeezed out a penalty from the ensuing ruck which Jackson converted to give the visitors an early lead.

Leinster hit back strong though, and the lead lasted all of a minute as Roger Wilson was pinged at a ruck by Munster referee John Lacey for not rolling away and Jimmy Gopperth levelled the scores with a penalty of his own.

The defending Pro12 champions began to really stamp their mark on the game, and they began to hit the Ulster defensive line hard. However, the away side held firm and all Leinster had to show for their dominance were two missed penalties from Gopperth.

Ulster were really struggling to gain a foothold in the game, and even though they were defending brilliantly, they couldn’t get hold of the ball, and it was proving to be a difficult evening for the visitors.

But totally against the run of play, Ulster took the lead through Jackson’s second penalty of the evening to make it 6-3, although you could say it was deserved for their fantastic work-rate in defence.

But Ulster’s task was to be made that little bit harder after openside Sean Doyle was sent to the sin-bin for repeated offences seven minutes before half-time.

And they made it pay immediately as weak Ulster tackling in the corner allowed number eight Jordi Murphy to crash over in the corner, albeit after checking with the TMO.

The home team were very close to adding a second try just before half-time as well, however Luke Fitzgerald was adjudged to have knocked the ball on inches before the line and nothing was given, however Leinster held a very comfortable lead heading in at the break.

After the break it was Ulster who began to get a bit of possession, but they could do nothing with it, their poor attack epitomised by Robbie Diack’s pass directly into touch, a rare mistake from the Ulster skipper.

Dan Tuohy could count himself lucky not to be yellow carded for a shoulder charge on Leo Cullen. But it was Leinster who extended their lead to seven points through Jimmy Gopperth’s second penalty of the evening after Ulster were caught offside at a ruck.

The introduction of Ruan Pienaar and Jared Payne off the bench seemed to galvanise Ulster into action, and they began to attack the Leinster defence strongly, but a Luke Marshall knock on the 22 ended the attack.

With Ulster now gaining a foothold in the game, it was up to Leinster to respond, and they did so through two more Gopperth penalties.

Ulster were desperately seeking a way back into the match and were now going for the corner from kickable penalties, however they could not find their way through the Leinster defence, despite having most of the possession.

Jared Payne thought he had a try after he dived in to try and score following Paddy Jackson’s grubber through, however television replays confirmed that he knocked the ball on in the process, summing up Ulster’s night in attack.

Ulster got one last chance at rescuing the bonus point, but Tom Court was caught holding onto the ball at a ruck and was penalised, although in truth they did not deserve it.

The result drops Ulster out of the top four with Leinster taking their place, and ten points behind league leaders and next week’s opponents Munster, which must now be viewed as a must-win game if Ulster are to challenge for the play-off spots at the end of the season.

The scorers

For Leinster
Try: Murphy
Con: Gopperth
Pens: Gopperth (4)

For Ulster
Pens: Jackson (2)

LEINSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Zane Kirchner, Dave Kearney, Brendan Macken, Noel Reid (Ian Madigan 65), Luke Fitzgerald, Jimmy Gopperth, Isaac Boss (Luke McGrath 78); (1-8) Jack O’Connell (Jack McGrath 58), Aaron Dundon (James Tracy 65), Martin Moore (Mike Ross 25, 65), Leo Cullen (Tom Denton 71), Mike McCarthy, Rhys Ruddock, Sean O’Brien (Dominic Ryan 52), Jordi Murphy.

Subs not used: Darragh Fanning.

ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Ricky Andrew (Jared Payne 49), Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall (Michael Allen 56), Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall (Ruan Pienaar 49); (1-8) Callum Black (Tom Court 58), Rob Herring, Declan Fitzpatrick (Ricky Lutton 71), Lewis Stevenson (Neil McComb 67), Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Sean Doyle (Mike McComish 66), Roger Wilson.

Subs not used: Niall Annett.
Sin bin: Sean Doyle (33)

Man of the Match: Jordi Murphy (Leinster)
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)[/tag]