London Irish Rugby Team

London Irish: 17 Ulster: 9
Fixture Type: Friendly Venue: Away
Match Date: Fri 19 Aug 2005 Attendance: 6330
Character and Confidence Overcome All
Ulster 9 London Irish 17
(Paddy Lennon reports from Ravenhill, Belfast)
London Irish became the first overseas team in the professional era to register two successive victories over Ulster at Ravenhill this evening. In a hard fought encounter played in difficult circumstances and in a hostile environment generated by the large, partisan home crowd, the Exiles showed depths of character and courage that auger well for the new Guinness Premiership campaign.

In achieving a notable victory the Exiles scored three tries to none. The tries came in the second half – two from the outstanding Topsy Ojo, a late replacement for Dominic Feau’nati, and one from Scott Staniforth, last season’s leading try scorer. Ross Laidlaw kicked one conversion. All of Ulster’s points came from the boot of Paul Steinmetz.

For the second week in succession the Irish defence was outstanding, bravely repulsing all that Ulster could throw at it. In the second half in particular the Exiles’ young players showed flair and good judgement in contributing to crucial plays that led to the tries.

Speaking after the match, Director of Rugby, Brian Smith said: “I was delighted with the character shown by all our players throughout a difficult game. That we won by three tries to none was very pleasing. We are still struggling to understand how two yellow cards can be shown in a friendly match, although the fact that the penalty count was an extraordinary 20 against us may explain the cards!”

In a lively opening quarter there was little to choose between the sides. Bob Casey and Kieran Roche were prominent in the lineout despite the attention of Ulster debutante, Justin Harrison, the famous Australian lock. In the backs the pace of Delon Armitage and Topsy Ojo down the left wing was a constant threat.

The first points of the game fell to Ulster and came in the fourth minute via the boot of inside centre Paul Steinmetz when Irish were penalised for handling in the ruck. That penalty was to set the tone for the match as the Exiles routinely found themselves on the wrong side of the referee’s decisions. Inevitably, in the circumstances, when equity is perceived to be lacking, frustration breeds rapidly. Paul Gustard was unlucky to be judged to be the offender in a flare-up and was sent to the sin-bin in the 11th minute.

At scrum half for the home team was former London Irish player, Kieran Campbell, who combined well with Paddy Wallace, seizing his chance at fly half in the absence of David Humphries through injury. Wallace tested Delon Armitage with a series of high balls but found the young full back in composed and counter-attacking mode.

As the half moved into its second quarter Irish were containing the Ulster threat. The visitor’s scrum was solid and behind it Barry Everitt and Mike Catt used a reliable service from Ben Willis to probe the Ulster defence. Despite this, the second score of the game, another penalty by Steinmetz, fell to the home team in the 26th minute when Irish were penalised for offside.

That score stirred Ulster who took the game to Irish down the middle of the pitch, driving with their forwards and then trying to spin the ball wide to the backs. Irish had to defend and did so capably as the opening half reached the interval with a score of 6-0.

Half-time saw both teams introduce a number of replacements, in Irish’s case nine changes were made.

Irish registered their first points of the game two minutes after the restart. Willis cleared the ball from a midfield breakdown just outside the 22. He found Shane Geraghty coming at speed, the young inside centre chipped the ball behind the oncoming defenders for Topsy Ojo to use his searing pace to score in the right corner. Ross Laidlaw’s attempted conversion from the touchline drifted just right of the upright.

Encouraged by the score the visitors lifted their game. The forwards fought for the ball in both set piece and open play. Yet again, Irish were penalised in the 46th minute and Steinmetz kicked his third penalty. Ulster launched a series of attacks and the Exiles defence was tested, A break by lively full back, Bryn Cunningam, was stopped just short of the try line.

A 53rd minute injury to Justin Bishop forced the return of Scott Staniforth to the left wing. He had the satisfaction of scoring Irish’s second try in the left corner six minutes later when he got on the end of a well judged kick through by Laidlaw. The latter kicked an exceptional conversion from the touchline to complete a score that gave Irish the lead for the first time in the match.

As the game entered its final quarter the visitors’ were playing confidently. Bob Casey and Academy player, Gary Johnson imposed themselves with the help of the rest of the tight five. Kieron Dawson, Paul Gustard and Juan Manuel Leguizamon were prominent in the loose and breakdown with the latter’s ball carrying a feature..

It was a break by Neal Hatley that led to Irish’s third try. He burst through midfield at speed, the ball was recycled to Dawson as the play moved right. He made crucial metres before offloading in the tackle to Topsy Ojo who had the strength and momentum to touch down in the right corner for a well worked try. Laidlaw had the frustration of seeing his difficult conversion bounce back off the right upright.

The game continued to be intensely combative to the end and Irish were to lose Leguizamon to the sin-bin in the 76th minute. In a testing final few minutes the Irish defence proved capable of snuffing out all that the home side could offer and so the score at the final whistle remained 9-17 to the visitors.

Scorers: Ulster: Penalty goals: Steinmetz 3 (4, 26, 47).
London Irish: Tries: Ojo 2 (42, 73), Staniforth (59; Conversion: Laidlaw.

Scoring sequence: 3-0, 6-0 (half-time) 6-5, 9-5, 9-12, 9-17.

Ulster: B Cunningham, J Topping (rep: J Bell, 48), A Trimble (rep: R Frost, 40), P Steinmetz, T Howe (rep: T Bowe, 48), P Wallace, K Campbell (rep: R Spee, 40), B Young, P Shields (rep: N Brady, 46), S Best (captain), J Harrison (rep: H Head, 69), M McCullough, C Feather, N Best, R Wilson (rep: N McMillan, 45).

London Irish: D Armitage, J Bishop (rep: S Staniforth, 53), S Staniforth (rep: J Storey, 40), M Catt (captain)(rep: S Geraghty, 40), T Ojo, B Everitt (rep: R Laidlaw, 40), B Willis (rep: C Mezger, 62), M Collins (rep: N Hatley, 40), A Flavin (rep: R Russell, 40), R Skuse (rep: R Hardwick, 40), B Casey, K Roche (rep: G Johnson, 40), P Gustard (sin-bin 11-21), D Danaher (rep: K Dawson, 40)(rep: D Danaher, 64-67), P Murphy (rep: J M Leguizamon, 40, sin- bin 76-80).

Referee: Mr Colin Stanley (USRFR)