BLUES SLIP TO DEFEAT

Welsh Rugby Union | Club & Community Published 8:41 am 12th Sep 2005 post

CARDIFF BLUES 22 ULSTER 25
Dai Young’s men, who started the season with defeat at Connacht last week, threw away an early lead after outside-half Nicky Robinson had kicked five penalties. Ulster’s veteran fly-half David Humphreys pulled the visitors back onto level terms mid-way through the second half before Tommy Bowe scored the crucial try.

Scrum-half Kieran Campbell lobbed the defence with a speculative kick but Bowe had lost opposite number Craig Morgan out wide. The bounce was kind for the Ireland wing who showed real class in rounding full-back Nick MacLeod to score on 64 minutes. Humphreys added the conversion and a drop goal minutes later as the game swung Ulster’s way.

Wales wing Morgan made amends for his earlier mistake with a try two minutes from time, after Humphreys saw his kick charged down by Rhys Williams, to set up a nail-biting climax. But even the conversion was not enough to save the Blues from another defeat, albeit with a bonus point, while Irish eyes were smiling.

Blues:
N MacLeod
C Czekaj
R Williams (capt)
T Davies
C Morgan
N Robinson
M Phillips (R Powell, 73)
J Yapp
R Thomas
M Jones (B Evans, 67)
C Quinnell (D Jones, 73)
R Sidoli
M Molitika
A Powell (M Lewis, 69)
R Sowden-Taylor

Try – C Morgan
Con – N Robinson
Pens – N Robinson (5)

Ulster:
P Wallace
T Bowe
K Maggs
P Steinmetz
A Trimble
D Humphreys
K Campbell
J Fitzpatrick
P Shields (R Best, 59)
S Best (capt)
J Harrison
M McCoullough (R Frost, 50)
N Best
R Wilson
N McMillan