[tag=image]http://cdn.soticservers.net/tools/image ... 250/14.png[/tag][tag=content]Ulster kept the pressure on league leaders Glasgow Warriors with a 36-17 bonus point triumph over the Cardiff Blues at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night.
Early tries from Craig Gilroy and Louis Ludik set the Ulstermen on their way before Ludik’s late second and a Paul Marshall score at the death secured all five points.
The hosts welcomed back Paddy Jackson and Chris Henry from injury, however another returnee Stuart Olding was stretchered off after just four minutes with a leg injury.
Cardiff, who at one point found themselves 21-0 down, battled back bravely through Tom Isaacs and Alex Cuthbert scores, but ultimately ran out of puff towards the end of the game.
The hosts got off to a flyer, winning their own kick-off and then going through several phases before Craig Gilroy had the pace on the wing to cross in just the second minute.
The try was overshadowed by an early injury to the returning Stuart Olding, who had to be stretchered off, and then just two minutes later there was another lengthy delay when Cardiff full-back Rhys Patchell went down with a head injury and was also stretchered off.
After twelve minutes of delays, the game restarted and Ulster were immediately down a player – back rower Nick Williams sin-binned for his involvement in Patchell’s injury.
Buoyed by a successful early driving maul, and having an extra forward, Cardiff went for the jugular with a kickable penalty a few minutes later, however it came to no fruition and a chance went begging.
Instead it was Ulster who would win the sin bin period with Ruan Pienaar’s first penalty of the night giving the Irish province a 10-0 lead with Williams still off the field.
And as soon as the New Zealander returned to the field, Ulster returned to their try scoring ways with Louis Ludik showing great strength to muscle over from a few metres out for the home side’s second try.
Another Pienaar penalty followed to extend the lead to 18-0 before Cardiff assaulted the Ulster line with fervour, turning down more kickable penalties in favour of going to the corner to try and launch a driving maul.
Despite having Franco van der Merwe sin binned, Neil Doak’s men held firm and survived a late TMO scare to head into the second period still holding their opponents to no points.
After the break Pienaar and Anscombe traded penalties before the Blues silenced the Kingspan crowd with two tries that they fully deserved.
The signs were there as the Welsh region had had the best of possession and territory in the second half and it was no surprise when Tom Isaacs was on hand to finish off a fantastic break from Lucas Amorosino.
Alex Cuthbert notched the second not long after in almost the same fashion – Kristian Dacey was the one who carved through the Ulster defence before the ball was worked wide to the winger who sauntered over.
Suddenly it was 21-17 and it looked like the visitors might actually steal the victory, however a penalty from Pienaar settled the nerves of the home crowd and put a try between the two teams.
It looked like that might be as good as it got, but Ulster managed to scrape the bonus point at the death with two late scores.
Ulster’s third came when, with a penalty advantage, substitute Ian Humphreys kicked across the field and found Louis Ludik and, after juggling the ball slightly, the full back found his way over the line.
And out of nothing the bonus point was secured with a few minutes left on the clock when Iain Henderson surged forward and then off-loaded to scrum-half Paul Marshall who rounded off the game with the score.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Gilroy, Ludik (2), Marshall
Cons: Pienaar, Humphreys
Pens: Pienaar (4)
For Cardiff
Tries: Isaacs, Cuthbert
Cons: Anscombe (2)
Pen: Anscombe
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Louis Ludik, Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding (Rory Scholes 4), Michael Allen (Ian Humphreys 67), Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar (Paul Marshall 70); (1-8) Callum Black (Andrew Warwick 70), Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst (Bronson Ross 66), Dan Tuohy (Robbie Diack 55), Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Clive Ross (Chris Henry 58), Nick Williams.
Sub not used: John Andrew
Sin bin: Nick Williams (6), Franco van der Merwe (38)
CARDIFF BLUES
(15-9) Rhys Patchell (Gareth Davies 6), Alex Cuthbert, Cory Allen (Tom Isaacs 4), Gavin Evans, Lucas Amorosino, Gareth Anscombe, Lloyd Williams (Tavis Knoyle 70); (1-8) Sam Hobbs (Taufa’ao Filise 74), Matthew Rees (Kristian Dacey 58), Adam Jones (Scott Andrews 54), Jarrad Hoeata (Macauley Cook 66), Lou Reed, Josh Turnbull, Ellis Jenkins, Josh Navidi (Manoa Vosawai 49).
Man of the Match: Paddy Jackson (Ulster)
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 36-17 Cardiff Blues
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