This afternoon at the Recreational Ground Ulster claimed an historic 28 – 10 victory over Bath, narrowly missing out on Heineken Cup quarter-final qualification but ensuring further European action this season in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
At kick-off today, progression to the Heineken Cup quarter-final stage was still a mathematical possibility, with Ulster needing a victory and four-try bonus point at the Rec, coupled with a heavy defeat for Stade Francais at Edinburgh, in order to finish top of the group and win an automatic place in the last eight.
O’Connor was quickly involved, called upon on six minutes to open scoring with a well-executed penalty. Bath had an immediate chance to equalise after Ulster had been penalised for not releasing the man in the tackle, but out-half Nicky Little’s kick rebounded back off the posts and into Ed O’Donoghue’s grateful clutches.
Ulster kept the pressure on, however, and, after a fruitless drop-goal attempt from O’Connor on 14 minutes, quickly forced their way back into Bath territory. They were soon rewarded for their persistence with the award of a second penalty, with back-row James Salvi sanctioned for coming in from the side.
O’Connor effortlessly put his side six points clear, but no sooner had play restarted than Bath finally flexed their muscles, with Shontayne Hape doing the groundwork to allow Matt Banahan to land the try. This time Little’s kick was true, the conversion putting the Englishmen ahead at Bath 7 Ulster 6 on the 25-minute mark.
With Bath now leading on the scoresheet, control of the game swung in their favour for the next 10 minutes. However, Ulster were able to fend off any advances and crafted themselves a good scoring opportunity when O’Connor elected to kick for touch from a 35th minute penalty.
Five metres from the Bath try-line, Ulster duly won the line-out and, in the resulting melee as the ball went to ground, play was stopped for a deliberate stamp by Danny Grewcock on a prostrate Stephen Ferris. The English lock saw a straight red for the offence, and O’Connor kept up his 100% kicking record with the subsequent penalty to edge Ulster back into the lead.
The clock ran down to half-time with Ulster containing play in the middle of the park, and as the teams ran off for the break, news filtered through that the other Group 4 match, unfolding simultaneously at Murrayfield, hung in the balance at Edinburgh 6 Stade Francais 7 at the half-way stage.
The second half opened with a moment of sheer brilliance from Andrew Trimble. Picking up on half-way, the Ireland winger ripped through the Bath defence with electrifying pace, leaving numerous Englishmen in his wake and going over for a superb score. O’Connor’s conversion lost its way in the air, but Ulster were a converted try ahead at Bath 7 Ulster 14 on 45 minutes.
Four minutes later, the four-try bonus point began to look a distinct possibility when Simon Danielli surged through and offloaded to Darren Cave, who stepped on the gas and landed the second score. This time O’Connor converted and stretched the lead to 14 points at Bath 7 Ulster 21.
Little then hit over a 54th-minute penalty to reduce the gap to Bath 10 Ulster 21, and Bath, after an infringement from Trimble on 57 minutes, eschewed a further three points by opting for a line-out five metres from the Ulster line. The danger was averted with an eventual knock-on, but the Englishmen continued to apply pressure in the Ulster half, when circumstances were dictating that the visitors needed to be in control of the ball at the other end of the park.
With Edinburgh now leading 9 – 7 as the two games entered their final quarter, Ulster spent the next 10 minutes soaking up Bath pressure until Danielli snatched possession and had a great chance to set up Jamie Smith for a try-scoring opportunity. Unfortunately the Scot got crowded out before he could supply Smith, and the chance went begging.
Ulster had managed to force their way back into the opposing half, though, and Paddy Wallace brought the bonus point to within touching distance, showing quick feet to go over on 78 minutes after a scrum on the Bath 22. The speedy O’Connor conversion put the result beyond any doubt at Bath 10 Ulster 28, but time soon ran out and, with Stade eventually going down in Edinburgh by the narrowest of margins, 9 – 7, the Frenchmen’s losing bonus point secured them top spot on 18 points.
Ulster finished in second place with 17 points, qualification for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals guaranteed, and, notably, their first victory on English soil in 11 years.
Full-Time Score Bath 10 Ulster 28
