Peter Burke
Leinster scored 3 tries to Ulster’s 2 but it was the 3 penalty goals that gave the men in white their victory!
It was the perfect evening for an interpro, the game was sold out and it had all the hallmarks of being a good game to be at let alone play in.
Leinster welcomed back James Ryan and Hugo Keenan no doubt to give them a run ahead of the European Cup final next weekend, but no sign of Ringrose just yet.
The game itself was just mad stuff.
Before kick-off a moment’s silence was held to remember those who have passed away in the rugby community, which was observed impeccably.
Ravenhill was buzzing and the atmosphere was electric and Ulster didn’t disappoint the home crowd as they started on the front foot with Mike Lowry started off like a man possessed and feeling he has a point to prove he was everywhere, and he had two trys disallowed for his efforts.
The first for simultaneously touching the ball down with Russell being the other hand, and the second chalked off for a double movement after the attentions of Hugo Keenan who played well for his first time back.
Ulster were a team on a mission and it showed as Leinster were making silly errors. Then after 13 minutes, with a well worked lineout and an excellent driving maul that saw Rob Herring get the ball down but not after our friend the TMO had a few checks with that phrase ‘I’ll rock and roll it for you’. The try was given and Cooney converted for an early 7-0 lead.
Leinster though, being Leinster, showed why they are arguably the best side in Europe when they converted two quickfire tries to leave the home supporters stunned into silence. A charge down by Connors as Burns try to clear and Ngatai took the lead and scored and then Keenan showing a nice piece of skill to offload to Foley who crossed the whitewash with Byrne converting both.
Ulster were awarded a penalty close to half time and Cooney duly obliged so the haltime score was 10-14 to Leinster
After the restart Ulster started off well with another penalty and that man Cooney stepped up again to narrow the lead.
Leinster were building momentum and you felt like they were always going to inflick some sort of try scoring opportunities and it came. The prop Ala’alatoa crashed over to score and it looked like this was going to be Leinsters day but as we all know this is sport and anything can happen and of course it did.
Leinster were on the move again looking for that fourth try for the bonus point and going through the phases, a wayward pass from Harry Byrne was intercpeted by Jacob Stockdale who read the flight of the ball perfectly and lit the afterburners and he was away to score, the stadium erupted, Cooney split the posts and Ulster felt a momentum shift.
Leinster still looked dangerous and Max Deegan looked set to score in the corner but for a magnificent tackle into touch by Lowry. Then a huge moment as Leinster pushed towards the tryline and looked like the inevitable refs arm would raise with a loud shrill of the whistle to award the try but no a superb defensive effort saw Ulster turn it over.
Then, a penalty was given after Leinster were too slow too roll away at a ruck.
Cooney stepped up and the crowd were silent and the ice man converted to give Ulster the deserved win and a URC playoff spot.
A kick that secured a place in the top eight of the URC and play-off rugby.
Richie Murphy’s men had done the double over Leinster in the URC and can now look forward to a final regular season round against Munster at Thomond Park.
FT: Ulster 23-21 Leinster