The Front Row Union Sport - PRO12: Ulster 17 Dragons 15

PRO12: Ulster 17 Dragons 15

Feb 7, 2016

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Ulster went top of the PRO12 with a narrow 17 – 15 win against the Dragons on Friday night at Ravenhill. I’d predicted a bonus point win in my preview but Ulster left it to he last minutes to edge in front thanks to a 77th minute penalty from Paddy Jackson.

Ulster (7) 17

TRY: Sean Reidy, Penalty Try. CON: Ian Humphreys, Paddy Jackson. PEN: Paddy Jackson.

Dragons: (10) 15

TRY: Adam Hughes, Carl Meyer. CON: Angus O’Brien. PEN: Angus O’Brien.

I didn’t catch the game live as I was covering the Ireland v Wales U20’s match at Donnybrook but I have since caught up via iPlayer. As I said, I’d predicted a bonus point win for our boys but, after viewing the match, the Dragons were much better than expected, proving that last weekend’s win against Leinster was no fluke.

The visitors certainly started the game the better with an Angus O’Brien penalty giving then a 0 – 3 lead on the fourth minute. The Dragons extended their lead to 10 points, to the delight of the Welsh commentators sitting behind me at the Ireland U20’s match, when Adam Hughes crossed on the 16th minute after a break by Ashton Hewitt was helped along by a clever grubber into the corner by Carl Meyer.

However, they had barely stopped poking me in the back before Sean Reidy continued his rich vein of form with a 24th minute try. Ian Humphreys converted well from out wide and the score read Ulster 7 Dragons 10, and that’s how it remained until the break.

Sniggers from behind alerted me that the Dragons had further extended their lead shortly after the restart, fullback Meyer crossing for an unconverted try but, after that, things went pretty quiet as the U20’s game livened up.

With my phone dead I had to rely on the other journos in my vicinity but even then the message was mixed. All confirmed a penalty try to Ulster, converted by Jackson, but some feeds were showing a third try from Roger Wilson and others were not.

Eventually I learned that Wilson’s effort was disallowed but, thanks to BBC Wales and a tablet, I was able to watch Paddy’s long range effort to sneak the game and put Ulster top of the PRO12.

Final Score: Ulster 17 Dragons 15.

Ulster: Louis Ludik, Craig Gilroy, Darren Cave, Stuart Olding, Jacob Stockdale, Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar, Callum Black, Rob Herring, Ricky Lutton, Alan O’Connor, Pete Browne, Robbie Diack, Sean Reidy, Roger Wilson. Replacements: John Andrew, Kyle McCall, Bronson Ross, Clive Ross, Nick Williams, Paul Marshall, Paddy Jackson, Stuart McCloskey.

I might not have made the game but our photographer was pitch side for some cracking shots.