[tag=image]http://cdn.soticservers.net/tools/image ... 250/14.png[/tag][tag=content]Ulster succumbed to their first defeat of 2014, going down 28-23 to the Cardiff Blues at the Cardiff Arms Park, a result which seriously dents their prospects of a home semi-final in the Pro12.
The performance also left a lot to be desired for Ulster coach Mark Anscombe who will be very worried going into next week’s Heineken Cup quarter-final against Saracens off the back of this performance.
It all started superbly for Ulster when after just two minutes Darren Cave held off Cardiff full-back Dan Fish to cross for the opening try of the game, although it was unconverted by Jackson.
Instead it was down to Cardiff fly-half Gareth Davies to seize the kicking initiative and he landed two penalties in a row to push Cardiff into a 6-5 lead after twenty-five minutes.
Despite only being one point behind on the scoreboard, Ulster were not at their best and were also getting on the wrong side of referee Marius Mitrea who was frequently penalising Ulster at the breakdown.
And Mitrea’s patience ran out with the visitors in the twenty-eighth minute with Dan Tuohy being sent to the sin bin after illegally handling the ball in a ruck and Davies extending Cardiff’s lead to 9-5.
Cardiff made their man advantage in the forwards pay with a destructive driving maul that rolled from the halfway line all the way up to the Ulster 22, however it only yielded a fourth penalty for Davies.
They didn’t have to wait too long for a try however, and it was a brilliant try too with Alex Cuthbert bursting down the wing before feeding Irish number eight Robin Copeland who finished the move superbly.
And Davies continued to heap the first-half misery onto the Belfast men with his fifth penalty of the half, meaning the hosts went in at half-time with a 22-5 lead.
Despite being seventeen points down on the scoreboard it was Ulster who came out of the blocks quicker in the second half and Jackson knocked over two quickfire penalties to make the score 22-11.
Luke Marshall was then convinced that he had scored a try under the posts in the 55th minute, but TMO Gareth Simmonds ruled that the Irish inside centre had been held up by Josh Navidi and the Ulstermen had to settle for Jackson’s third penalty of the night.
Cardiff had a great chance to kill the game off after Macauley Cook charged down Paul Marshall’s box kick, but the back row forward couldn’t get the try that would have won the match for the Welsh side.
Davies and Jackson then traded penalties to bring the score to 25-17 with fifteen minutes left in the game.
Tommy Bowe then passed up a guilt-edged opportunity to get Ulster back to within one point as he broke the line then decided to pass back inside rather than give the ball to Andrew Trimble who was clean through on his outside.
Jackson was on target with two more penalties to get Ulster back to within two points of the Blues with just six minutes to play, setting up a nervy finish for both teams.
However it was Davies who decided the result of the game with his final penalty of the evening after Jared Payne was caught not rolling away at a ruck to leave the final score at 28-23.
Ulster desperately assaulted the Cardiff line in the last few minutes, but the home side held firm and the Irish outfit had to settle for a losing bonus point which, based on how they played, was probably more than they even deserved.
The scorers
For Cardiff
Try: Copeland
Pens: G Davies (7)
Con: G Davies
For Ulster
Try: Cave
Pens: Jackson (6)
CARDIFF BLUES
(15-9) Dan Fish, Alex Cuthbert, Cory Allen, Isaia Tuifua (Gavin Evans 74), Chris Czekaj, Gareth Davies, Lewis Jones (Lloyd Williams 71); (1-8) Gethin Jenkins, Kristian Dacey (Matthew Rees 57), Taufa’ao Filise, Lou Reed (James Down 69), Filo Paulo, Macauley Cook (Ellis Jenkins 74), Josh Navidi, Robin Copeland.
Subs not used: Thomas Davies, Scott Andrews, Sam Humberstone.
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Tommy Bowe, Paddy Jackson, Michael Heaney (Paul Marshall 56); (1-8) Tom Court (Andrew Warwick 66), Rob Herring (Niall Annett 68), John Afoa, Johann Muller (Iain Henderson 56), Dan Tuohy (Sean Doyle 74), Stephen Ferris (Robbie Diack 40), Chris Henry, Nick Williams.
Subs not used: Ricky Lutton, Craig Gilroy.
Sin bin: Tuohy (28)
Referee: Marius Mitrea (FIR)[/tag]
Match Report: Cardiff Blues 28-23 Ulster Rugby
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