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Cooney the hero again as Ulster edge Harlequins in thriller

By Online Editors
John Cooney slots a late penalty

John Cooney’s long-range penalty two minutes from time secured a 25-24 Champions Cup comeback win for Ulster over Harlequins.

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Ulster trailed 24-22 in the closing stages after two second-half tries from Quins hooker Elia Elia had edged the visitors in front.

But an Adam McBurney try and Cooney’s conversion left Ulster within range and Cooney’s penalty made it three wins from three and left them on top of pool three.

Sean Reidy and Stuart McCloskey claimed Ulster’s other tries along, both converted by Cooney, who also landed two penalties.

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Quins, who earned a losing bonus point, had a try from Alex Dombrandt, in addition to Elia’s double. Marcus Smith converted all three tries and added a penalty.

After a bright opening, Ulster opened the scoring with a seventh-minute Cooney penalty with Marcus Smith responding two minutes later after the home side were offside at the restart.

Louis Ludik then intercepted a long cut-out pass from James Lang with Quins on top following a dangerous run from Gabriel Ibitoye.

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Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Cooney then held on to the ball with Ludik free outside him before Chris Robshaw’s jackal on Marty Moore.

Quins crossed the line in the 24th minute after Dombrandt had initially won a Cooney kick-chase. The visitors attacked left and after Ross Chisholm made ground down the right, Kyle Sinckler’s short pass put Dombrandt through two tackles to score.

Smith converted and Quins led 10-3.

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

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Ulster hit back just after the half hour when via a penalty after Iain Henderson’s rip. Billy Burns’ cross-kick picked out Stuart McCloskey whose off-load released Sean Reidy to gallop over the line.

Cooney’s conversion tied the scores at 10-10 which is how the half ended.

Clearly intent on making an early statement, McCloskey barrelled over in the left corner three minutes after the restart when crisp passing from Burns and Marshall gave the Ulster centre a chance to smash through Chisholm. Cooney was well wide with the extras.

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Smith hit the upright with a 50th-minute penalty shot after McCloskey was pinged for a high tackle on Francis Saili.

But Quins came back three minutes before the hour. A penalty for early engagement at a maul was put into the corner and Elia surged over the line through McCloskey’s tackle.

Smith converted to nudge Quins ahead and then the visiting hooker grabbed his second from a length of the field move.

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

It came when Ludik was pulled down short of the Quins’ line and Dombrandt intercepted Cooney’s pass to Coetzee and charged downfield.

He linked with Chisholm and Ibitoye before, in midfield, Elia dummied Kieran Treadwell and ran in unopposed making the extra two points a formality for Smith.

Ulster responded with a score off their own from a driving maul. A penalty was put to the corner and, after Henderson won the lineout, Ulster got early momentum and McBurney was driven over the line.

Cooney’s conversion reduced the deficit to 24-22 and it then fell to the scrum-half to nail the match-winning penalty.

Press Association

The game in images: 

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

Ulster Rugby v Harlequins - Heineken European Champions Cup - Pool Three - Kingspan Stadium

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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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