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John Cooney's boot steers Ulster clear of Connacht
By PA
Ulster won the opening festive Irish interprovincial derby by the narrowest of margins over Connacht, triumphing 20-19 at a weather-hit Kingspan Stadium.
Two penalties and two conversions from John Cooney helped Ulster claim the four points, Andy Warwick and Nick Timoney with tries in a first half which ended with the home team leading 14-7.
Connacht claimed a losing bonus point following tries from Bundee Aki, Shamus Hurley-Langton and Shayne Bolton but have now lost five games on the bounce.
Two minutes in and Ulster were out of the blocks with an excellent multi-phase attack which resulted in Warwick diving over from close range and Cooney converting.
But Connacht tied things up on nine minutes when Bundee Aki smashed over from close range, Jack Carty then converting. Connacht thought they had another try shortly afterwards but Bolton just could not get to the ball before it went dead from Mack Hansen’s chip.
Then on 19 minutes Ulster scored again, this time from a tap-and-go penalty following a period of intense pressure in Connacht’s 22 with Timoney driven over the line from close range. Cooney added a superb conversion from the touchline.
Neither side then managed any score in what remained of the opening half, allowing Ulster to maintain their 14-7 lead at half-time.
Ten minutes into the new half, Ulster increased their lead when Cooney slotted a penalty putting the home side 10 points ahead at 17-7.
Just before the hour, a long pass to the edge found Hurley-Langton who, with a lot to do, smashed past Rob Baloucoune and Addison and though Hume’s despairing tackle was referred upstairs, the Connacht flanker was adjudged to have stayed in play. Carty was wide with his kick from the difficult angle.
Ulster responded with a 64th-minute penalty from Cooney which put the hosts 20-12 to the good.
With just over 10 minutes to go, Bolton made a break and slid over the Ulster line, Carty’s conversion cutting the home team’s lead to just one point.
That was how the Irish derby concluded as Timoney kicked the ball out following a scrum with time up.
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Latest Comments
Perenara is super woke, the treaty of long ago is irrelevant to a game of rugby in Italy. By referencing it and claiming the countries going through tough times is clearly because Perenara doesn't agree with the democratically elected government of New Zealand that people from all ethnicities voted for. Perenara is making it divisive and political despite many of his team mates that wouldn't agree with his decision. The Allblacks saved this year's worst performance to combine it with the most divisive haka statement. Perhaps it's overdue now for NZ rugby to leave the haka for home games only, ensure that only the players that want to do it are included and never again have 'insertions' added by political activist players.
Go to commentsI expected a larger win than this and the ABs were off slightly whilst the rested Italians were well up for this and gave a real committed performance
Frustrating but a lot of those ABs forwards have done huge minutes this tour and Italy are not the side from the World Cup
Remember they beat wales and Scotland in the 6N
Drew with France and lost to England by 3
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