Vids here for the tries + the entire game and audio with Mark Anscombe + reports from Ulster rugby.
“Unbeaten Ulster made it 13 wins from 13 for the 2012/ 13 season – and three from three in the Heineken Cup – as a consummate performance outclassed Northampton Saints in every department at Franklin’s Gardens”
Ulster’s fairytale season has continued in the Heineken Cup, with a four try rout of Northampton Saints. Ulster’s magnificent league campaign has been extended to Europe’s premier competition, to the delight of their supporters. Rarely can the English giants have been so thoroughly outplayed and outclassed at their famous citadel
Ulster started the game in determined fashion, and their well marshalled forward pack demonstrated that they had come to lay down a marker to their esteemed Premiership opponents. Indeed the opening few minutes were characterised by intensity that bore the hallmarks of a test match. Northampton just shaded the opening exchanges, and were rewarded for their efforts with a penalty on ten minutes. Fly-half Ryan Lamb missed the consequent kick, however. Typifying their glorious season thus far, it was the ambitious visitors that opened the try scoring. With their forwards beginning to achieve some ascendancy in the game, Paddy Jackson put through a sublime chip which was gratefully finished by Ireland winger, Andrew \Trimble.
Andrew Trimble Try
[youtube W-V8LPt5rvk]
Jackson missed the conversion, making it 5-0 to the visitors. By now, Ulster had gained the upper hand in the scrum, and the tight forwards appeared to have the measure of their English counterparts. Moreover Ulster’s superbly drilled defence ensured that rare Northampton incursions into the Ulster 22 failed to yield points. Defensive excellence has been a constant feature of Ulster’s progress this season, and kudos must be extended to defence coach Jonny Bell, who has clearly done a magnificent job. Ulster’s defensive effort was personified by Paddy Wallace, who put in some tremendous hits. Lamb, meanwhile, was having a dreadful game with the boot and missed another eminently kickable attempt on 12 minutes. Jackson failed to extend Ulster’s advantage with a missed kick on 16 minutes. Lamb did finally make amends for his earlier jitters on 21 minutes, when he belatedly opened the Saints’ account. Jackson landed another kick on 23 minutes to make it 8-3 to the Ulstermen, following a magnificent Ulster maul. Ulster’s backs had now hit their stride, and Tommy Bowe marked his 50th Heineken Cup appearance with a 34th minute try.
Tommy Bowe Try
[youtube 2iAGgljrAFU]
Lamb narrowed the gap to seven on 41 minutes, however. Ulster picked up where they left off in the second half, and the accuracy of their efforts seemed to have left the Saints shell shocked. Indeed man of the match, Jared Payne seemed to have made a decisive intervention on 44 minutes, when he swept through the Northampton cover to score. Payne’s finish had been preceded by some beautiful counter attacking rugby.
Jared Payne Try
[youtube PysgiNExp6M]
Ulster proved the smarter of the two sides, and were adept at keeping the ball in Northampton territory. The only blight on their performance was captain Muller’s removal from the fray with an apparent knock. Northampton desperately tried to seize the initiative, but time and again they were repelled by Ulster’s granite defence. The home team were offered a ray of hope on 71 minutes, when the outstanding Iain Henderson was sin-binned. But 14 man Ulster held on. Tuohy even secured the elusive bonus point on 79 minutes to complete this most comprehensive of victories.
Dan Tuohy Try
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Ulster undoubtedly have serious ambitions in this season’s Heineken Cup. After this evening, anything is possible.
Report by Rory McGimpsey
