Ulster recover from big early deficit to beat Stormers

BBC News

28-03-2025

Ulster (17) 38Tries: Baloucoune, Warwick, Murphy, Stockdale, Ward, Moore Cons: Cooney 2, Murphy, Doak Stormers (17) 34Tries: Roos 2, Loader, Engelbrecht Cons: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2 Pens: Drop goals: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2
Ulster recovered from a 17-0 deficit after just eight minutes to run in six tries in recording a battling 38-34 win over the Stormers in Friday's United Rugby Championship encounter at Kingspan Stadium.Tries from Evan Roos and Ben Loader helped the visitors to their sizeable early lead but Robert Baloucoune, Andrew Warwick and Jack Murphy's scores ensured the sides went in level at the interval.The try-fest continued after the break, Stockdale crossing for the bonus-point try before the South African side had skipper Neethling Fouche sent-off for a dangerous challenge on Ben Carson.Zac Ward and Stewart Moore also touched down for the Irish province while Willie Engelbrecht and Roos scored tries for the Stormers to keep themselves within touching distance.For Ulster it was the first time this season they have recorded three wins in a row and they move up to fifth position in the table to improve their chances of clinching the top eight-place which would guarantee a place in the end-of-season knockout stages and qualification for the Champions Cup.The Stormers remain in contention too with four home games to come to complete their regular league campaign.
See-saw first half
The Stormers took a second-minute lead when back-rower Roos raced away to score after the hosts had been turned over on their own 22 and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu played him through a gaping hole in the Ulster defence.The visiting fly-half added the extras and soon after executed a drop goal from long range to increase the lead to 10-0.The South African's side superb start continued when Loader broke away to score after Dave McCann's pass in the tackle on halfway fell loose and was latched onto by the wing. Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicked the conversion from the right-hand touchline.Ulster responded on 11 minutes as Baloucoune marked his return to action after an 11-month absence by going over in the corner after collecting Murphy's 20-yard spin pass.The home side enjoyed the better of the possession and pressure thereafter in the first half and were rewarded when prop Warwick barged over from close range, Cooney adding the additional two points.Feinberg-Mngomezulu then steered a penalty from 35 metres wide after the ball fell off the tee - a let -off for Richie Murphy's side.The Stormers number 10 was at the centre of the action again as he received a yellow card for taking out Baloucoune in full flight after the wing had kicked the ball forward into space.Soon after Murphy crossed when the ball was spun to him on the left after Ulster rucked up close to the Stormers' line and he finished the move superbly.
High scoring continues
After the sides went in level at the break, Ulster got off to a storming start on the resumption by touching down for his side's bonus-point score.Ulster opted for a tap and go at a penalty and worked the ball to the left where Mike Lowry unselfishly passed to Stockdale who cantered over. Cooney was successful with his kick to put two between the sides.The Stormers suffered a further setback when they had captain Fouche sent-off by referee Andrea Pairdi after he consulted with the Television Match Official [TMO].The prop was adjudged to have committed a dangerous challenge to the head of centre Ben Carson, who left the field injured.Feinberg-Mngomezulu reduced his team's arrears when he returned to the field after his 10 minutes in the bin, notching a second drop goal, this time firing between the sticks from 40 yards.That proved to be only a brief respite however as Ulster scored try number five. Stockdale burst through the midfield before offloading to the right flank to flying replacement Ward, who sprinted over the line. Murphy had the simple task of adding the conversion from in front of the posts.The Stormers were not finished though as substitute Willie Engelbrecht darted in beside the posts, Feinberg-Mngomezulu adding the two points to put just four between the sides.Ulster's sixth try came on the counter-attack, Lowry scorching down the right flank and passing to Nick Timoney, then Doak and then Moore who dashed over adjacent to the uprights. Doak's kick extended his side's advantage to 11 points.Again, the Stormers came back strongly as Roos barged over from close range for his second of the night, the conversion bringing their side to within four.Ulster hung on for a crucial win however, the victory ensuring that the record of no South African side having ever won at the Kingspan Stadium continues.
Team line-ups
Ulster: Michael Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale, Jack Murphy, John Cooney, Andrew Warwick, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole, Alan O'Connor (capt), Kieran Treadwell, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney, David McCannReplacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Ben Carson, Zac WardDHL Stormers: Damian Willemse, Ben Loader, Suleiman Hartzenberg, Dan du Plessis, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Dewaldt Duvenage, Ali Vermaak, Joseph Dweba, Neethling Fouche (capt), Connor Evans, Ruben van Heerden, Dave Ewers, Marcel Theunissen, Evan RoosReplacements: Andre-Hugo Venter, Brok Harris, Sazi Sandi, Gary Porter, Willie Engelbrecht, Paul de Wet, Jurie Matthee, Wandisile Simelane