In an electrifying bout of rugby, Ulster managed to snatch a victory from the reigning champions, Glasgow Warriors, scoring a try in the fourth minute of overtime. This unexpected triumph, largely facilitated by a last-minute score from backup scrumhalf Dave Shanahan, surpassed most expectations for the match.
While Ulster may have struggled initially, their substitutes, especially Shanahan, turned the game in their favour. Named man-of-the-match, Shanahan’s 27-minute contribution provided the necessary spark towards an unlikely turnaround, infusing a sense of speed and a level of clarity previously missing from play.
Despite dominating for significant portions of the game, the Warriors will undoubtedly regret letting the win slip. They succumbed to a try by Dave McCann in the 72nd minute. Scoring in the 74th minute with a brilliant try from Kyle Steyn gave them a narrow lead, but they inadvertently gave Ulster one last shot at victory. And Ulster didn’t disappoint.
Ulster’s head coach, Richie Murphy, acknowledged how remarkable it was that the team kept pushing despite their subpar performance, and the resulting victory was phenomenal. This win, however, shouldn’t mask the fact that their play was somewhat shaky in the initial 60 minutes.
Ulster entered the season with concerns regarding a shortfall in power amongst their forwards, which seemed to manifest in the first half. The Warriors dominated the bulk of the physical confrontations, accumulated several penalties due to a superior scrum, and posed a significant threat once they entered Ulster’s territory.
Despite these issues, certain individuals stood out for Ulster as they sought unity on the field. Significant performances came from players like Michael Lowry, Aidan Morgan, and Ethan McIlroy. The tireless efforts of the back row trio of James McNabney, Dave McCann, and Nick Timoney, despite minor flaws, intensely strived to find a solution.
Life has several givens – mortality, taxation and the assuredness of Johnny Matthews, a Glasgow hooker, making tries. Last season at the URC, he scored a staggering 14 tries, and in just five minutes into the current season, he had his first. The spectators saw him deny three points, punt to the corner, and with an ingenious shift/drive lineout technique, he powered over. Nathan Doak secured a penalty for his team. Morgan, in a breathtaking move, intercepted Tom Jordan’s kick and recovered the ball within the Glasgow 22. Then, as the ball was passed around, Ulster’s recent addition saw the perfect opportunity to power through two opponents and scored a try, which Doak converted.
The home team’s irregular discipline at the ruck cost them another penalty. Glasgow then kicked to the corner and continued to pressure until their number eight player, Henco Venter, spotted a gap in the Ulster defence close to the line, scoring for his team. Jordan added the conversion, taking Glasgow’s first-half lead to 12-10.
An excellent break from McIlroy then allowed Ulster to win a penalty within the Glasgow 22. Choosing to double down and go to the corner, they missed out on an easy three points to retake the lead. The determined home side continued to probe, mainly via a series of rucks until Jude Postlethwaite had a go for the line but fumbled the ball.
Following this, the home team had a penalty advantage but their attempt at a try was thwarted again by McNabney. Glasgow’s heroic defence saw them down to 13 players with both Jordan and Richie Gray sin-binned. This further questioned Ulster’s decision not to look for width with their two-man edge.
Home team optimism was short-lived as Glasgow, led by captain Kyle Steyn, enacted a lovely sweeping countermove. The succeeding conversion by Adam Hastings on the touchline made the task of an Ulster rebound even more challenging.
In a keenly contested match, Glasgow suffered a penalty, allowing Morgan to lend his side an advantageous position in the 22 of the visitors with a well-executed kick. Ulster, with precision and determination, meticulously mapped out their journey to the line. Shanahan, finally, managed to squeeze under various opponents to secure the try. The TV match referee reviewed the situation yet found no grounds to alleviate Glasgow’s sorrow.
Scoring rundown – After 5 minutes, Matthews scored a try making it 0-5; Doak provided a penalty at 16 minutes, taking the score to 3-5; Morgan managed a try with a subsequent conversion by Doak at 18 minutes, putting them ahead at 10-5; A try from Venter, converted by Jordan, at 25 minutes saw the scoreline change to 10-12. The first half concluded with a 10-12 scoreline. McCann made a try at 72 minutes, edging the scoreboard to 15-12; Steyn, with assistance from Hastings, scored a try at 74 minutes, swinging the score to 15-19; and finally, Shanahan’s triumph in the 84th made the final score 20-19.
Ulster was represented by McIlroy, Lowry, Moore, Postlethwaite, Stockdale, Morgan, Doak, O’Sullivan, Andrew, Barrett, Henderson (captain), Treadwell, McNabney, McCann, and Timoney. Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors comprised of McKay, Cancelliere, McDowall, Tuipulotu, Steyn (captain), Jordan, Dobie, Bhatti, Matthews, Talakai, Williamson, Gray, Fagerson, Darge, and Venter.
Substitutions for Ulster and Glasgow were made accordingly. For both teams, replacements began at 46 minutes. Jordan received a yellow card at 58 minutes and Gray at 65 minutes. The match was overseen by referee Adam Jones from the Welsh Rugby Union.
This outstanding match will be remembered for its nerve-racking moments and intense performances by both teams.
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