Former Wallabies lock claims brace as Ulster see off Ospreys

A brace of tries from Luke Marshall and Sam Carter helped Ulster to a 47-17 victory over the Ospreys at the Kingspan Stadium to make it three wins from four in the United Rugby Championship.

Ulster, who suffered defeat to Leinster last time out, also crossed over through John Andrew, Stuart McCloskey and Marcus Rea – as John Cooney added the extras – in a one-sided clash where they had already secured their try bonus before half-time.

Ospreys scored a first-half try from Jac Morgan in addition to a conversion and penalty from Jack Walsh and ended the contest with a touchdown from Morgan Morris which Walsh converted.

Ulster claimed their first try shortly after kick-off when Marshall barrelled over after the visitors had made a hash of clearing and Cooney converted.

Six minutes later and a penalty was put to the corner, prompting the Ulster maul to rumble over the line to allow Andrew to touch down for try number two which Cooney again converted.

The Ospreys then struck back when Morgan got on the end of a lineout maul with Walsh converting.

Just before the end of the first quarter, an Ulster counterattack saw Duane Vermeulen and Craig Gilroy link before Nick Timoney surged over though the score was scrubbed out as Walsh and Morgan prevented the touchdown.

The home side recorded their third after 22 minutes when Carter burrowed over from close range after the Irish province had attacked off a lineout, while Cooney converted once more.

Five minutes later, Walsh kicked a vital long-range penalty after Ulster were penalised at a scrum.

Then, after 33 minutes, Ulster secured their bonus point through Marshall’s second, with the centre again running a good line and lining up a mismatch.

Cooney’s conversion took the home side’s lead to 28-10, which is how the first half ended.

One minute after the restart, McCloskey was put clear by Michael Lowry, though Cooney was wide with the extras.

The next score came after 64 minutes when Carter drove over from close range for his second and Ulster’s sixth which Cooney converted.

It was not over yet and – with six minutes remaining – replacement Rea dotted down, with Cooney again converting.

The game ended with Morris crashing over and Walsh converting but it was too late for Ospreys to mount a fightback.