{"id":23194,"date":"2021-09-24T18:04:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-24T22:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23194"},"modified":"2021-09-25T10:06:58","modified_gmt":"2021-09-25T14:06:58","slug":"ulster-hold-off-glasgow-in-grandstand-finish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/?p=23194","title":{"rendered":"Ulster Hold Off Glasgow In Grandstand Finish"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Ulster’s Nathan Doak scores his sides fifth try despite Fraser Brown of Glasgow Warriors (INPHO\/James Crombie)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ulster started their United Rugby Championship campaign in winning fashion, defeating Glasgow Warriors 35-29 in a scintillating nine-try clash at Kingspan Stadium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A closely-fought first half, at the end of which Glasgow led 15-14, gave way to a purple patch for Ulster as quick-fire tries from\u00a0Martin Moore\u00a0and\u00a0Nick Timoney\u00a0had them in the box seat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ireland Under-20 starlet\u00a0Nathan Doak,<\/strong>\u00a0who had replaced hamstring victim\u00a0John Cooney,<\/strong>\u00a0put his name to the bonus point score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Ulster lost\u00a0James Hume\u00a0to the sin-bin and were left hanging on during the closing quarter as the new-look Warriors battled their way to a brace of bonus points.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dan McFarland’s\u00a0men began with a bang in the opening exchanges,\u00a0Stuart McCloskey\u00a0making a break and offloading to\u00a0Robert Baloucoune\u00a0who raced down the wing but was tackled just short of the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ulster won a penalty and looked to make use of their maul from the lineout. They changed tack and moved the ball wide, with Glasgow’s Cole Forbes guilty of a deliberate knock-on as Cooney looked to convert an overlap out wide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Referee Ben Whitehouse produced his yellow card and awarded the penalty try. Three minutes in and the 15,000-strong home crowd were loving it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Warriors gradually gained some territory with a spell in the middle of the field. Center Sione Tuipulotu went on a strong run down the short side to offload to George Horne to score. Duncan Weir was unable to convert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ulster’s second try came through a trademark maul after a period of building territory. On his first competitive start,\u00a0Brad Roberts\u00a0peeled away to barge over and Cooney slotted the extras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The visitors quickly earned a penalty, with out-half Weir on target this time as the province’s lead was reduced to 14-8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Glasgow continued to grow into the game, testing the home defense which remained unbroken until the clock went deep into the red. Johnny Matthews eventually muscled through to score, with Ross Thompson’s conversion nudging the Scots in front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the second half got underway, Ulster made a real statement of intent by applying waves of pressure from the get-go. They went on the pick-and-go and prop Moore did really well to dodge a defender and twist around and score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Talented teenager Doak, who came on to replace the injured Cooney, took over the place-kicking duties and landed the conversion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just five minutes later, Ulster pounced again.\u00a0Billy Burns\u00a0showed great vision to chip the ball over for\u00a0Jacob Stockdale\u00a0to make the tip-on to Timoney, who raced over for the bonus point try – converted by Doak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Glasgow needing a timely lift at 28-15 down, Rufus McLean looked certain to score until Stockdale and Hume intervened with last-gasp tackles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, following a lengthy TMO review, the referee deemed Hume’s tackle to be illegal – he dived on McLean while he was still on the ground and going for the line. A yellow and a penalty try followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ulster dealt with the young center’s absence well, fellow Ireland international\u00a0<\/strong>Will Addison\u00a0coming on and getting involved in the build-up to the hosts’ fifth score.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He charged down a Glasgow kick, then sent a grubber through and did really well to reclaim possession. He was brought down just shy of the line, but had Doak on his shoulder to finish off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The scrum half converted his first senior try to leave it 35-22. Back came the visitors, Jamie Dobie collecting Ross Thompson’s offload to touch down in the 64th minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conversion made it a six-point game, Danny Wilson’s charges continued to apply a barrage of pressure on the Ulstermen, but the latter’s superb defense stood firm for the final few minutes.<\/p>\n

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