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Gilroy double helps Ulster kick off PRO14 campaign with Ospreys win
By Ian Cameron
Craig Gilroy claimed a brace of tries as Ulster opened their Guinness PRO14 season in style with an emphatic 38-14 bonus-point win over the Ospreys at the Kingspan Stadium.
The home side also claimed tries from back-rower Greg Jones and full-back Matt Faddes, the new signing from New Zealand who crossed on his competitive debut for the Irish province.
Ulster’s other score was a late penalty try awarded after Faddes was impeded trying to dive on a ball over the Ospreys’ line.
The Welsh side’s scorers were Dan Evans, who got their only try, and three Luke Price penalties which all came in a first half which ended with Ulster leading 21-14.
Ulster made one late change to their starting line-up with Jordi Murphy withdrawn in what was believed to be a precaution as he could yet be called out to the Ireland’s World Cup squad in Japan should Jack Conan not recover from a foot injury.
Price kicked the Ospreys into an early lead with a fourth-minute penalty.
The visitors also scored the first try of the game when full-back Evans went over – the score being awarded by the TMO – though Price missed the extras.
John Cooney then unusually missed a 10th-minute penalty but, three minutes later, Ulster got off the mark through Gilroy following a kick pass from Billy Burns. This time Cooney nailed the conversion via the post.
But Price then landed a monster penalty from halfway to push the Welsh region ahead by four points.
However, Ulster struck back – with Ospreys’ winger Luke Morgan in the bin – when Jones, who was called into the side after Murphy’s withdrawal, drove over from close range and Cooney’s conversion made it 14-11.
Price’s third penalty drew the teams level before Ulster finished the half by sending Faddes in at the corner after a terrific move with Cooney adding a superb touchline conversion to put the home side 21-14 in front.
Cooney kicked a 45th-minute penalty to further increase Ulster’s advantage and then Gilroy bagged the bonus point with Burns again providing the assist with another cross-kick.
Cooney’s conversion put Ulster 31-14 ahead and that became 38-14 after 70 minutes when the home side were awarded a penalty try.
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Latest Comments
This is true.
But perhaps because rugby is Australia’s fourth (or worse) most popular sport, there is just no coaching talent good enough.
It’s interesting that no players from the Aussies golden era (say between 1987 - 2000) have emerged as international quality coaches. Or coaches at all.
Again, Australians are the problem methinks. Not as interested in the game. Not as interested to support the game. Not as interested to get into the game.
And like any other industry in the world - when you don’t have the capabilities or the skills, you import them.
Not difficult to understand really.
Go to commentsi think Argentina v France could be a good game too, depending on which Argentina turns up. The most difficult to call is Scotland Australia.
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