Munster Rugby secured a 22-19 win over Ulster Rugby with a bonus point try after time was almost up on the clock. The halftime score was 07-05 in favour of Munster, however, the second half came alive to entertain the crowd in a match that was up for grabs until the final seconds of the Round 8 United Rugby Championship clash.
It was a great start for Ulster on home soil and Tom O'Toole was eventually the one to score the first try after seven minutes of play in the first half.
Munster were penalised for not rolling away, giving Aidan Morgan the chance to kick Ulster into the corner. Rob Herring found his man in the lineout before they attacked the Munster tryline through Stuart McCloskey.
Ulster launched attack after attack on the Munster try line which was followed by another penalty against Munster. Ulster took a tap and go, and eventually, Tom O'Toole got over the line from close range. John Cooney adds the extras from the kicking tee.
Ulster dominated the first twenty minutes of play but was kept from scoring a second try with the sometimes desperate defence of Munster.
After twenty-eight minutes of play, Munster put the ball through their hands and went wide where Tom Farrell fends off two Ulster players before getting over for the try. Jack Crowley misses the conversion.
Minutes later Ulster were reduced to 14 men as Tom O'Toole was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on Alex Nankivell. The prop landed awkwardly on the Munster centre's leg. The referee judged it to be a dangerous tackle.
Ulster led 07-05 at the halftime break in a "boring" half of rugby but this has been a keenly fought battle. Both sides are lacking confidence and it is showing at Kingspan Stadium.
Despite Ulster dominating territory and possession Ulster, Jack Crowley did brilliantly to scoop the ball up and ran across the pitch before hitting a lovely chip into space that John Hodnett was able to get control and spread the ball inside.
Eventually, Jack Crowley hits a lovely kick pass to Tom Farrell who passes inside to Mike Haley who passes it back to Tom Farrell who runs in for his second try. Jack Crowley missed the conversion. Munster led 10-07 after thirteen minutes of play in the second half.
After twenty-four minutes of play in the second half, Munster conceded another penalty. Ulster kicked to the corner and got a rolling maul going before breaking away, and finally, they got over the line! Harry Sheridan is the man to score from close range. John Cooney's conversion comes off the post, and it's a two-point game.
Two minutes later Calvin Nash finds some space to make a break before Tom Farrell finds Shane Daly, who finishes well in the corner for Munster. Jack Crowley pulls the conversion wide of the posts. Munster led 15-12 with thirteen minutes to play in the second half.
With five minutes to play Ulster following a sustained period of pressure, retook the lead when flanker James McNabney scored their third try. John Cooney converted to put Ulster back into the lead with 19-15.
With time up on the clock Munster launched another attack and John Farrel crashed over the Ulster tryline with two defenders on his back. Crowley scored his hat-trick of tries and secured a bonus point for the visitors.
Jack Crowley converted the first of four attempts to secure a 22-19 bonus point win for Munster.
Scorers:
Ulster Rugby: Tries: Tom O'Toole, Harry Sheridan, James McNabney. Conversions: John Cooney (2).
Ulster Rugby: Tries: Tom Farrell (3), Shane Daly. Conversion: Jack Crowley.
Teams:
Ulster Rugby: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Aidan Morgan, 9 John Cooney, 8 Dave McCann, 7 Marcus Rea, 6 James McNabney, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Andrew Warwick. Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Dave Shanahan, 22 Jack Murphy, 23 Rory Telfer.
Ulster Rugby: 15 Mike Haley, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Shane Daly, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Paddy Patterson, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Jack O’Donoghue (c), 5 Fineen Wycherley, 4 Tom Ahern, 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Niall Scannell, 1 John Ryan. Replacements: 16 Eoghan Clarke, 17 Dave Kilcoyne, 18 Oli Jager, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Alex Kendellen, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Rory Scannell, 23 Brian Gleeson.
