Glasgow Warriors secured the URC’s number one seed with a dramatic late 26–22 victory at Ulster’s Affidea Stadium, Kyle Rowe’s 76th-minute try breaking home hearts in Belfast.
Key moments
8 mins – TRY GLASGOW: George Horne breaks through the defensive line before Sione Tuipulotu finds Stafford McDowall with a superb assist. McDowall cuts a devastating line past Nick Timoney and flies in under the posts. Horne converts. (Ulster 0–7 Glasgow)
19 mins – TRY ULSTER: Zac Ward bursts clear from halfway, using his sevens pace to weave through the Glasgow cover and score in the corner. Michael Lowry with the assist. Flannery’s conversion drifts left. (Ulster 5–7 Glasgow)
21 mins – YELLOW CARD GLASGOW: Nathan McBeth yellow carded for shouldering the head of Bryn Ward on kick-off receipt.
32 mins – TRY ULSTER: Ward picks off a rash Dan Lancaster pass inside Glasgow’s 22 and races the full length of the field for his second of the night. Flannery converts. (Ulster 12–7 Glasgow)
37 mins – TRY GLASGOW: Glasgow respond immediately, working through the phases before Nathan McBeth forces his way over from a pick and go. Horne converts. (Ulster 12–14 Glasgow)
42 mins – TRY GLASGOW: Kyle Rowe wriggles through a gap before George Horne throws a dummy at a ruck and darts over under the posts. Horne converts his own try on the stroke of half-time. (Ulster 12–21 Glasgow)
Half-time: Ulster 12–21 Glasgow. Warriors score twice late in the half to turn a five-point deficit into a nine-point lead. Richie Murphy makes four half-time changes, bringing on Bell, Izuchukwu, Doak and McIlroy.
44 mins – YELLOW CARD GLASGOW: Josh McKay yellow carded for head contact.
59 mins – TRY ULSTER: Michael Lowry delivers a pinpoint kick and Ethan McIlroy finishes brilliantly in the corner. Doak’s conversion strikes the right post. (Ulster 17–21 Glasgow)
68 mins – TRY ULSTER: Bryn Ward produces a sublime offload out of contact to put replacement Jack Murphy away. A series of passes opens up the space and Murphy scores the lead-taking try. Doak’s conversion drifts right. (Ulster 22–21 Glasgow)
76 mins – TRY GLASGOW: A wonderful passing move from halfway sees Dan Lancaster and Euan Ferrie burst through before Ferrie delivers a great pass to Kyle Rowe, who goes over in the corner for the bonus-point try. Horne’s conversion strikes the upright. (Ulster 22–26 Glasgow)
Full-time: Ulster 22–26 Glasgow Warriors
Full match report to follow.
Teams
Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Wilhelm De Klerk, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jake Flannery, 9 Conor McKee, 8 Bryn Ward, 7 Nick Timoney (c), 6 Joe Hopes, 5 Charlie Irvine, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Sam Crean.
Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Lorcan McLoughlin, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jack Murphy, 23 Ethan McIlroy.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Rowe, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Macenzzie Duncan, 7 Jack Dempsey, 6 Ally Miller, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Jare Oguntibeju, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Sione Vailanu, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Ollie Smith.
Match details
Ulster 22 (Tries: Z. Ward 2, McIlroy, J. Murphy; Cons: 1/4 Flannery 1/2, Doak 0/2; Pens: 0/0)
Glasgow Warriors 26 (Tries: McDowall, McBeth, Horne, Rowe; Cons: 3/4 Horne; Pens: 0/0)
Half-time: 12–21
Venue: Affidea Stadium, Belfast
Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)