Depleted Connacht fall to a heavy defeat in Belfast

 Connacht 3

A losing run can really knock the stuffing out of a side, and Connacht are in the midst of a slump. Inter-provincials are rarely fruitful outings for the men in green but this season, it seems worse than ever. The three provinces are soaring in all competitions while Connacht are falling further behind. Injuries, a heavy schedule, the Champions Cup pressures are all adding up for Andy Friend’s side and Friday’s post Christmas tussle in Belfast underlined as much.

The first half had plenty of highlights, but it will be remembered by Connacht for one spell, however, a series of 30 odd phases in the Ulster 22 that yielded nothing but frustration for a blunt looking attack. Ulster defended their 14-3 lead with gusto having carved out their two tries from very little possession or territory.

It was the visitors who had dominated that area thanks to their scrum and a multitude of lineout steals, but it was Ulster’s impressive skills and offloading that led to them dominating the line breaks in the contest.

Ulster’s first half lead was built almost entirely off the back of one tactic, the garryowen. Simple and devastatingly effective high kicks into Connacht territory with the aim of either making them a two-man contest or at least forcing Connacht into mistakes. Out of seven first half kicks, Connacht knocked on six and turned over one other. Tiernan O’Halloran was at fault for four in an error strewn effort, John Porch a couple more.

It was the only way Ulster could establish a foothold in the contest. Once they had done so, the scores followed. Their first try from Alan O’Connor was beyond fortunate as while it came from a five metre lineout on the Connacht line, the visitors had stolen the ball on the throw only for it to be tapped down loosely and not claimed. Dubliner and second row O’Connor was more alert than anyone and dived on the ball over the line. A calamity from the perspective of the westerners.

Ulster’s second try was from a more sweeping effort with high skill levels when it came to offloads and more purposeful lines of running from their backline than anything Connacht are capable of producing at the moment. Billy Burns got their second try under the posts after some sharp play from Will Addison among others. The ever brilliant John Cooney converted.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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