Ulster Rugby recorded a commanding 28-3 victory over Munster at Affidea Stadium in Belfast, climbing to second place in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The hosts were tied 6-3 at halftime under snowy conditions but dominated the second half, scoring three unanswered tries to secure a comprehensive derby win.
Nathan Doak Leads Ulster With Clinical Kicking
Ulster’s fly-half Nathan Doak, fresh off signing a new contract to remain with the province until 2028, contributed 13 points from penalties and conversions. Munster’s only points came from a JJ Hanrahan penalty, leaving the visitors with a 3-point tally.
The Ulster side, coached by Richie Murphy, have now won six of eight league matches this season, moving above Cardiff, Munster, and Glasgow in the standings, just one point behind league leaders Stormers with a game in hand.
A Festive Derby with Snowy Conditions
The match, played in front of Ulster’s first sold-out crowd of the season, featured challenging weather conditions with snow falling throughout. Munster rotated heavily after a busy festive period, resting internationals Tadhg Beirne, Craig Casey, and Jack Crowley.
Ulster started brightly, with Jacob Stockdale barging past JJ Hanrahan to spark the home crowd and James Hume forcing a turnover that led to the opening points via Doak’s penalty. Despite dominating territory and possession, Ulster led just 6-3 at the break due to the slippery conditions and Munster’s defensive resilience.
Second Half Surge Secures Ulster Victory
The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. Ulster scored three tries and 22 unanswered points, decisively taking control of the derby.
- Tom Stewart opened the scoring after a Jacob Stockdale try was disallowed.
- Jake Flannery powered over after a Munster turnover near their line, extending Ulster’s lead.
- Bryn Ward, marking his first senior try, sealed the victory in the final minutes.
Despite further attacks into Munster’s 22, Ulster narrowly missed a fourth try that would have earned a bonus point, but the victory still marked a dominant performance in their Irish derby.
Looking Ahead: Challenge Cup and URC Fixtures
Ulster now turn their attention to the Challenge Cup, facing the Cheetahs in Amsterdam on 11 January, while Munster will host Toulon in the Champions Cup following back-to-back derby defeats.
Ulster’s performance highlights their growing consistency this season under Murphy’s leadership and positions them as genuine contenders in the URC standings.
Full Match Details
Ulster: Stockdale; Kok, Hume, McCloskey, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, O’Toole, Henderson (capt), Hopes, Izuchukwu, Timoney, Ward
Replacements: Herring, O’Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, McCann, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite
Munster: Haley; Nash, Kelly, Nankivell, Abrahams; Hanrahan, Patterson; J Wycherley, D Barron (capt), Ala’alatoa, Kleyn, F Wycherley, T Ahern, Hodnett, Kendellen
Replacements: Barron, Loughman, Bartley, O’Donoghue, Gleeson, Coughlan, Butler, O’Brien
Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)
Leave a Reply