Ulster fightback leaves Gloucester hopes in doubt
Ulster 14 Gloucester 1
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Gloucester's Heineken Cup hopes were left hanging by a thread after they fell victim to a superb Ulster fightback at rainswept Ravenhill last night.
Jake Boer's men looked to have done enough in their quest for a priceless away victory which would have secured a win-or-bust Pool Six showdown with the French champions Stade Français on Sunday week.
But the 1999 European champions Ulster recovered from a 12-3 interval deficit to leave Gloucester floundering by scoring 11 unanswered second-half points through a Bryn Cunningham try and two David Humphreys penalties. Fly-half Humphreys landed his winning kick seven minutes from time, keeping alive Ulster's outside chance of a quarter-final place. Gloucester now have to beat Stade at Kingsholm, score at least four tries, register at least three more than their opponents and also stop Stade from collecting a losing bonus point.
Henry Paul, discarded by the England coach Andy Robinson during the world champions' defeat against Australia five weeks ago, emphatically showed he possesses a big-match temperament by kicking three penalties in terrible conditions.
And Simon Amor's 40th-minute drop-goal helped give Gloucester a healthy advantage before the wheels spectacularly came off their wagon. Paul found his range after 14 minutes, rifling over a kick just inside Ulster's half which deservedly edged Gloucester ahead. He doubled their lead with a 29th-minute penalty. Paul completed his penalty hat-trick after an Ulster scrum infringement five minutes before half-time. Humphreys then booted a long-range penalty to open Ulster's account.
Ulster struck first after the break, courtesy of Tommy Bowe catching a Humphreys kick and sending a supporting Cunningham over. Humphreys then had the final say, landing two penalties in six minutes. They were blows that could effectively end Gloucester's European adventure for another season.
Ulster: Try Cunningham; Penalties Humphreys 3. Gloucester: Penalties Paul 3; Drop Goals: Amor.
Ulster: Cunningham; Bowe, Maggs, Steinmetz, Howe (Wallace 69); Humphreys, Campbell; SBest, R Best (Shields 46), Moore (McCormick 80), Longwell (Frost 66), McCullough, Feather (Ward 60), N Best, Wilson.
Gloucester: Goodridge; Garvey, Fanolua, Paul, Bailey; Amor, Gomarsall; Bezuidenhout, Parkes, Vickery, Eustace, Brown, Boer, Hazell (Buxton 40), Balding (Forrester 73).
Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments