Match Report: Ulster Rugby 28-6 Ospreys

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Match Report: Ulster Rugby 28-6 Ospreys

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[tag=image]http://1.1.1.2/bmi/upload.wikimedia.org ... spreys.gif[/tag][tag=content]Ulster got their 2015/16 Guinness Pro12 campaign off to the perfect start with a comfortable 28-6 bonus point victory over the Ospreys at the Kingspan Stadium.

An astounding solo try from man-of-the-match Stuart McCloskey set Ulster up for the win, with Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst and Luke Marshall also crossing for the Irish province, while two Sam Davies penalties were scant consolation for the Ospreys.

The hosts needed just five minutes to break the deadlock as Nick Williams sucked in two defenders and offloaded to Willie Faloon who burst into the 22 and from there captain Rob Herring was on hand to barrel his way over from short range.

Somehow McCloskey, in charge of kicking duties, managed to miss the conversion from nearly straight in front of the posts, but he made amends four minutes later with the opening penalty of the night.

The Ospreys were having marginally more of the ball and they were working their way into good positions, however Ulster’s defence ensured that their visitors remained scoreless at the midpoint of the half.

Just after the 20 minute mark the Ospreys did get their first points from the first scrum of the game. Loosehead Marc Thomas got the better of Wiehahn Herbst and Sam Davies got the penalty, albeit with a little help from the uprights.

While the Welsh side were having more possession, Ulster were doing more with it and they had their second try of the game in the 27th minute courtesy of centre McCloskey.

Andrew Trimble made an the initial surging run up the field before the ball was worked out to McCloskey, who amazingly managed to hold off four Ospreys defenders and cross in the corner.

Just before the break Clive Ross was penalised for pulling down an Ospreys player at the line-out, and a second Davies penalty meant the sides went in at 15-6, however the fly-half couldn’t convert his first effort five minutes after the restart.

Instead it was McCloskey who landed his second of the evening in the 47th minute after he burst into the Ospreys 22 and the visitors were guilty of not releasing at an ensuing ruck.

And the hosts got their third try six minutes later as prop Wiehahn Herbst wriggled over in the corner after a strong rolling maul put them into the perfect position, however McCloskey was again wayward with the extras.

The Ospreys’ night was made even harder when flanker Joe Bearman was adjudged to have cleared Luke Marshall out of a ruck dangerously and the Englishman was sent to the sin bin with 20 minutes to go.

Yet somehow Steve Tandy’s men were the better side during that period, assaulting the Ulster line relentlessly and but for a Dan Baker knock on right at the try line, they would have actually won that period.

But Ulster were not to be denied their fourth and bonus point try, and it came with only two minutes left on the clock as Craig Gilroy put on the afterburners to go round a defender and create the space.

Gilroy passed out wide and it was a simple case of quick hands that set centre Luke Marshall over in the corner for the try that gives Neil Doak a perfect opening start.

The scorers

For Ulster
Tries: Herring, McCloskey, Herbst, L Marshall
Con: McCloskey
Pens: McCloskey (2)

For Ospreys
Pens: Davies (2)

ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Louis Ludik, Andrew Trimble (David Shanahan 68), Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey (Sam Arnold 59), Craig Gilroy, Peter Nelson, Paul Marshall (John Andrew 68); (1-8) Andrew Warwick (Bronson Ross 78), Rob Herring, Wiehahn Herbst (Ricky Lutton 59), Dan Tuohy (Peter Browne 54), Franco van der Merwe, Roger Wilson (Clive Ross 2-14, 33-40), Willie Faloon (Sean Reidy 66), Nick Williams (Clive Ross 56).

OSPREYS
(15-9) Dan Evans, Kristian Phillips, Jonathan Spratt (Ashley Beck 48 (Scott Otten 66)), Ben John, Tom Grabham, Sam Davies, Tom Habberfield (Brendon Leonard 63); (1-8) Marc Thomas (Nicky Smith 53), Sam Parry, Dmitri Arhip (Cai Griffiths 63), Lloyd Ashley, De Kock Steenkamp (Rory Thornton 54), Joe Bearman, Lloyd Evans (Sam Underhill 63), Gareth Delve (Dan Baker 48).

Yellow card: Joe Bearman (59)

Man of the Match: Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)
Referee: Ian Davies (Wales)[/tag]
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