Ulster Win Keeps Them On Target

The Borders 15 - 19 Ulster Rugby Netherdale   Att: 1,200 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse Friday 30th April 2004, 19:30

Title-chasing Ulster enjoyed the best of luck as the Borders' quest to secure a Heineken Cup slot suffered another major setback with a 19-15 defeat

Title-chasing Ulster enjoyed the best of luck as the Borders' quest to secure a Heineken Cup slot suffered another major setback with a 19-15 defeat. Simon and Neil Best claimed the scores which decided the issue at Netherdale, leaving the home side needing a miracle to avoid ending up on the Celtic League basement. The Irishmen raced into the attack and pinned the Scots back inside their danger zone from the first whistle. And they should have drawn first blood when Tyrone Howe surged clear of the markers - but he paid dearly for a lapse of concentration as the ball slipped from his grasp. Ulster kept up the pressure and it was no surprise for the crowd when they watched prop Simon Best plough over. Borders had a penalty opportunity to claw back three points, but Gareth Morton's effort drifted off target. Ulster capitalised on the miss by bagging another three points thanks to a strike by Test stand-off David Humphreys. But the home brigade burst back into the contest when number eight Semo Sititi celebrated his comeback from suspension with a fine try in the wake of clever work by skipper Kevin Utterson. The fans showed their frustration as Morton was wide with the conversion and a subsequent penalty. But Tanner Vili took over the kicking duties to land the equaliser on the stroke of the break. There was little to choose between the sides in the early stages of the second half, but Humphreys bagged a snap drop-goal to edge the visitors back in front. Neil Best effectively ended the Borders' challenge with the second try before Humphreys added another penalty. Substitute Iain Fairley gave the Scots late hope with try goaled by Vili, but Ulster held out.

The Borders V Ulster Rugby   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   Gareth Morton 15 Bryn Cunningham Craig Moir 14 Scott Young Jono Stuart 13 Shane Stewart Kevin Utterson 12 Paul Steinmetz Andrew Turnbull 11 Tyrone Howe 1 1 Tanner Vili 10 David Humphreys 1 2 Gary Armstrong 9 Neil Doak Alan Johnston 1 Simon Best 1 Steve Scott 2 Matt Sexton Bruce Douglas 3 Rod Moore Scott Macleod 4 Gary Longwell Colin Stewart 5 Rowan Frost John Dalziel 6 Andy Ward Kelly Brown 7 Neil Best 1 1 Semo Sititi 8 Roger Wilson Replacements Ross Ford 16 Paul Shields Geoff Cross 17 Ronan McCormack Alastair Davidson 18 Tim Barker 19 Neil McMillan 1 Iain Fairley 20 Kieran Campbell Iain Berthinussen 21 Paddy Wallace Stephen Cranston 22 Tommy Bowe Penalty Tries 0 0

All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Graham Stuart