Ulster 24 Newcastle 20:ULSTER COMPLETED their three-game pre-season friendly programme unbeaten after two wins and a draw with a useful but yellow-card strewn outing against English Championship opposition prior to next Friday's PRO12 opener against Glasgow Warriors.
Ulster – who held on with 13 men for the last 10 minutes – were out of the blocks early and impressive new signing Nick Williams barged over after only 11 minutes after the home side’s pack launched themselves at the Falcons’ line for several close-in phases following a lineout.
The Falcons did bring something to the party when just after the half hour Alex Tait scrambled over in the right corner after the visitors opted for a scrum from a penalty under Ulster’s posts.
ULSTER: Tries: N Williams 2, M Allen, J Payne. Cons: P Jackson 2
NEWCASTLE FALCONS: Tries: A Tait, J Hall, J Sole. Con: J Gopperth. Pen: J Gopperth.
ULSTER: J Payne; C Gilroy, C Farrell, L Marshall, M Allen; P Jackson, M Heaney; C Black, R Herring, D Fitzpatrick, J Muller (c), L Stevenson, R Diack, M McComish, N Williams. Replacements: N Annett, N Brady, R Lutton, J Afoa, A Macklin, N McComb, A Birch, S Doyle, B McIlroy, N O’Connor, P Nelson, C Cochrane, R Andrew.
NEWCASTLE FALCONS: L Fielden; A Tait, S Huganga, T Tu’ipulotu, T Catterick; J Gopperth, R Lawson; J Golding, R Vickers, O Tomaszczyk, C Del Fava, J Hudson, C York, W Welch (c) A Hogg. Replacements: M Thompson, G Shiells, J Hall, S MacLeod, R Mayhew, C Pilgrim, W Luveniyalli, T Tu’ifua, S Tomes, J Fitzpatrick, J Helleur, J Sole.
REFEREE: L Cullen (IRFU)
