[tag=image]http://afghanistantrust.org/wp-content/ ... hitebg.jpg[/tag][tag=content]On a night that promised so much, Ulster could not provide the result as they fell to a 15-17 defeat against Saracens at a new-look Ravenhill in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.
The game was overshadowed by a controversial red card to Jared Payne in the fourth minute after he took out Alex Goode in the air, and this made Ulster’s night very difficult.
Three Ruan Pienaar penalties and two from Paddy Jackson were not enough to see off Saracens’ tries which came from Chris Ashton who got two and Mouritz Botha, with Owen Farrell’s solitary conversion proving to be the difference between the two teams.
Despite being down to fourteen men for the majority of the match, Ulster gave it their all and could have come away with the win, but in the end they did not have enough to overcome Saracens’ full compliment.
Owen Farrell hooked an early kick wide of the posts in the second minute for Saracens as the hosts looked to gain the early momentum, but it was what happened two minutes later that got the 18,000-strong Ulster crowd incensed.
A high kick went up and in competing for the ball, full-backs Jared Payne and Alex Goode clashed in the air, with the latter having to go off injured, and after consulting with the TMO, referee Jerome Garces elected to red card Payne in what looked like a harsh call.
Ulster’s night seemingly went from bad to worse as Rory Best then limped off with an injury after twelve minutes, but it was the hosts who scored first, a penalty from Ruan Pienaar after fourteen minutes.
Pienaar missed what seemed to be a simple opportunity to extend Ulster’s lead three minutes later with a straightforward penalty, but he pushed it wide and Ulster were to pay for that miss.
From a dominant scrum in the twenty-second minute, substitute Charlie Hodgson fed Chris Ashton who sprinted through unopposed to score a trademark “Ash Splash” try to give the visitors a 3-5 lead.
Back came Ulster however and using an increasingly dominant driving maul to their advantage, Pienaar landed his second penalty of the evening to take Ulster into a 6-5 lead.
The Springbok scrum-half was not looking in perfect condition out on the pitch, and it appeared to be affecting his usually reliant goal kicking as he pushed another effort wide of the uprights.
But he ended the half with a solid kick which took the sides in at half-time with Ulster leading 9-5.
That lead, and Pienaar, lasted just eight minutes into the second half as Ulster received a double blow to their chances as first Mouritz Botha scored a simple overlap try in the corner, then Pienaar was taken off clutching his shoulder again.
Stephen Ferris came on to a massive roar from the Ravenhill crowd, and Paddy Jackson had a chance to put the home team back in the lead fifty-three minutes in, but his penalty struck the post and the visitors still led 9-10.
Similarly, Owen Farrell was having a torrid night from the tee as he saw yet another kick sail wide of the uprights halfway through the second half in an uncharacteristically poor kicking performance.
Still, with their man advantage it was Saracens who were putting on all the pressure, yet somehow the Ulstermen held out with first Chris Ashton being held short of the line, and then Chris Wyles being held up over the line.
It was only a matter of time though, and Farrell made up for his poor kicking from the tee with an inch perfect crossfield kick which landed in the hands of Ashton who scored the away side’s third try.
Ulster were determined not be denied in front of a still raucous home crowd and two penalties from Jackson meant the difference was just two as the sides entered the final eight minutes.
Yet Ulster could not force that final penalty as they battered away at the Saracens defence with time elapsed, and after over forty phases it was Ulster who were penalised instead and Farrell was able to end the game by kicking into touch.
The scorers
For Ulster
Pens: Pienaar (3), Jackson
For Saracens
Tries: Ashton (2), Botha
Con: Farrell
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Jared Payne, Andrew Trimble (Craig Gilroy 64), Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Tommy Bowe, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar (Paul Marshall 48); (1-8) Tom Court, Rory Best (Rob Herring 12), John Afoa, Johann Muller (Robbie Diack 68), Dan Tuohy (Iain Henderson 59), Roger Wilson, Chris Henry, Nick Williams (Stephen Ferris 54).
Subs not used: Andrew Warwick, Ricky Lutton.
Red card: Jared Payne (4)
SARACENS
(15-9) Alex Goode (Chris Wyles 4), Chris Ashton, Duncan Taylor (Charlie Hodgson 10), Brad Barritt, David Strettle, Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth (Neil de Kock 68); (1-8) Mako Vunipola (Richard Barrington 73), Schalk Brits, James Johnston (Matt Stevens 47), Steve Borthwick, Mouritz Botha, Billy Vunipola, Jacques Burger, Ernst Joubert (Kelly Brown 64).
Subs not used: Jamie George, Eoin Sheriff.
Man of the Match: Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Referee: Jerome Garces (FFR)[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 15-17 Saracens
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