3 weeks ago
United Rugby Championship: Ulster v Benetton
Ulster: (21) FT
Try: Stewart, Crothers, Stockdale, Addison, Izuchukwu Pens: Cooney (1) Cons: Cooney (5)
Benetton: (8) FT
Tries: Menoncello, Umaga, Halafihi, Nemer, Albornoz Pen: Umaga Cons: Albornoz (3)
Ulster moved up to 5th successful nan United Rugby Championship (URC) standings pinch a bonus-point triumph complete Benetton astatine Kingspan Stadium.
Starting nan nighttime tenth successful a congested table, nan five-point return was capable to spot nan Irish state jump 5 places, moreover though Benetton's 2 bonus-points successful conclusion ensured nan sides ended nan nighttime separated only by points difference.
With nan sides having scored 5 tries apiece successful a crippled wherever some were blameworthy of protect lapses, Ulster's winning separator came acknowledgment to a five-from-five showing from nan tee by nan influential John Cooney.
The scrum-half was named subordinate of nan lucifer having kicked 13 points and providing 2 effort assists successful nan game.
Back astatine Kingspan Stadium 1 week aft interim caput coach Richie Murphy had said his broadside were "very lucky" to unafraid a overmuch needed triumph complete Cardiff, this was apt nan champion capacity to day during nan impermanent boss' short tenure.
A fewer acquainted failings were again successful grounds - Ulster shipped scrum penalties excessively often and their breakdown teetered connected nan brink passim - but having struggled for scores successful caller weeks, present they had 3 by half-time.
Benetton did return nan lead successful nan early going, attacking disconnected 1 of those Ulster scrum transgressions and moving nan shot patiently crossed nan section for Six Nations subordinate of nan title Tommaso Menoncello to people successful nan area disconnected Ryno Smith's pass.
Although nan Italian broadside threatened consistently done nan first half, they would negociate conscionable 3 much points from nan footwear of Jacob Umaga earlier nan turn.
Tom Stewart, Reuben Crothers and Jacob Stockdale all, meanwhile, crossed for Ulster.
While he did not people himself, plentifulness of in installments will person gone to John Cooney for his side's 21-8 half clip advantage.
Having kicked nan winning punishment against Cardiff past week, he was integral to nan opening 2 scores, breaking and offloading for Stewart to get Ulster connected nan committee earlier different dart brought Ulster correct to nan statement and allowed Crothers to tidy up for his first elder score.
In between, he produced a tackle connected Leonardo Marin that knocked nan winger into touch erstwhile he looked judge to people a try.
Also converting each 3 scores, it made for a productive opening 40 minutes for Ulster's number nine.
With Stockdale's score, coming aft nan winger won nan title to Stuart McCloskey's footwear ahead, having represented nan past action of nan first half, Benetton were quickly retired of nan blocks successful nan second.
Only 5 minutes had elapsed since nan restart when, aft Ulster were excessively sloppy successful possession, Andy Uren scooped up a loose shot and sent Umaga complete successful nan corner.
Ulster responded quickly, though. Five minutes later, pinch their backline completing a bid of accurate, wide passes, Will Addison was successful for nan crucial, bonus-point try.
The win, though, still needed to beryllium secured. 28-13 up aft Cooney added nan extras, 2 converted tries successful nan abstraction of 5 minutes brought Benetton backmost wrong a constituent pinch conscionable complete a 4th of an hr remaining.
While nan first of that quickfire pair, scored by Toa Halafihi, was nan merchandise of immoderate neat footwork from Menoncello, nan 2nd again came from Ulster errors.
After Mike Lowry mislaid his footing chasing a footwear successful behind, Ulster were stripped connected their ain statement to springiness Ivan Nemer nan simplest of scores.
Benetton made a correction of their ain connected nan restart, though, and aft a fewer phases hammering astatine nan Benetton line, Cormac Izuchukwu was rewarded pinch his first elder try.
Again Cooney converted and his 73rd infinitesimal punishment rounded disconnected Ulster's scoring, though nan precocious people from Tomas Albornoz ensured his broadside would bring 2 points backmost to Italy.
Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Addision, McCloskey, Stockdale; Burns, Cooney; O'Sullivan, Stewart, Wilson; Sheridan, O'Connor (capt); Ewers, Crothers, McCann.
Replacements: Andrew, Warwick, French, Izuchukwu, Jones, Shanahan, Marshall, McIlroy.
Benetton: Umaga; Marin, Menoncello, Zanon, Smith; Albornoz, Uren; Gallo, Nicotera, Ferrari; Scrafton, Iachizzi; Izekor, Lamaro (capt), L Cannone.
Replacements: Lucchesi, Nemer, Pasquali, N Cannone, Favretto, Halafihi, Garbisi, Drago.
Referee: Sam Grove-White
TMO: Sean Brickell
