Ulster end pre-season preparations positively

Ulster 22 Harlequins 5:ULSTER'S pre-season friendlies ended with a useful win over Aviva Premiership opposition as Brian McLaughlin's side prepare to begin their league programme on Friday night at Ravenhill against Glasgow Warriors.

With the week being dominated by Johann Muller’s surprise call-up to South Africa’s World Cup squad, Ulster made light of his absence with a result that saw them manufacture eye-catching tries from Craig Gilroy, Paul Marshall and Willie Faloon.

There were also decent outings from Ian Humphreys – who kicked three from three via two conversions and a penalty – and Nevin Spence who had both undergone operations in the off-season.

Darren Cave, who recently played for the Ireland XV against Connacht, also had a good outing as did the pack, led by new skipper Chris Henry who has come in for Muller, which augurs well for McLaughlin’s plans.

Even though it was staccato stuff, Ulster got off the ground with a kick and chase score from Gilroy which was converted by Humphreys after 22 minutes.

Humphreys added a penalty just past the half-hour mark but Quins hit back with a wonderfully worked score from Karl Dickson, after Ugo Moyne had smashed out of his 22, to make it 10-5 to the home side at half-time.

The remainder of the game was largely disjointed due to multiple substitutions from both sides but with two minutes on the clock Faloon burst through to cross the line.

ULSTER: A D’Arcy; C Gaston, D Cave, N Spence, C Gilroy; I Humphreys, P Marshall; P McAllister, A Kyriacou, J Cronin, L Stevenson, N McComb, P Wannenburg, W Faloon, C Henry (capt). Replacements: I Whitten for N Spence (50 mins); T Barker for L Stevenson (50 mins); C Black for P McAllister (55 mins); D Tuohy for N McComb and P Jackson for I Humphreys (61 mins); R Diack for P Wannenburg; P Nelson for C Gaston and I Porter for P Marshall (72 mins); L Marshall for D Cave (78 mins); A Macklin for J Cronin (79 mins).

HARLEQUINS: M Brown, R Chisholm, G Lowe, J Turner-Hall, U Moyne, N Evans, K Dickson; J Marler, J Gray, J Johnston, O Kohn, G Robson, C Robshaw (capt), W Skinner, T Guest. Replacements: C York for T Guest, C Brooker for J Gray (half-time); P Browne for G Robson (53 mins); T Fairbrother for J Johnston (54 mins); R Clegg for N Evans (57 mins); M Lambert for J Marler, C Matthews for O Kohn and R Bolt for K Dickson all (68 mins); L Wallace for M Brown and S Smith for R Chisholm both (69 mins).

Referee: L Colgan (IRFU)