Tom Stewart’s second hat-trick of the season helped Ulster to a 40-19 (19-7) win over Dragons RFC on Friday night in Belfast.
Tries from Stewart, David McCann and Nick Timoney were enough to see the Northern Irish province leapfrog the Stormers to go into second place in the United Rugby Championship.
Dragons played with speed and style, scoring through Angus O’Brien, Elliot Dee, and Rhodri Williams but lacked accuracy at key moments.
The home side’s first try came from their first attack of the match. David McCann started and made the try as he carried in the wide area and then, after a wonderful Stockdale offload, finished by burning winger Ashton Hewitt.
The Welsh region hit back immediately. A strong first phase move from a lineout on halfway gave Dragons front-foot ball.
Taine Basham, picking fantastic line, showed the Ulster defence a clean pair of heals and burst into the 22.
The Welsh international was caught just before the line but he was able to flick a wonderful offload to Angus O’Brien who collected and scored to level the scores.
The game was played at a frantic pace, playing into the hands of mobile forwards on both sides.
Ulster, though, felt aggrieved not to have retaken the lead as Craig Gilroy’s score was ruled out due to Duane Vermeulen’s contentious obstruction penalty.
RUTHLESS EFFIENCY
They retook the lead with ten minutes left in the first period, as their scrum dominance – led by early replacements Andy Warwick and Jeff Toomaga-Allen – started to pay dividends.
Tom Stewart from the back of the maul – a sight the Ulster faithful has become accustomed to this season – finished brilliantly in the corner, breaking off at the perfect time for his 14th score in as many games this season.
Dragons’ response to the relentless Ulster maul was to frequently collapse the rampant mass and, after a third offence, Elliot Dee was sent to the bin.
Stewart added another straightforward score from Dee’s penalty and Ulster went into the break with a healthy 12-point cushion.
Dragons started the second period strongly, another Basham carry proving to be the catalyst for a period of territorial dominance, despite not adding to the score.
Ulster punished the visitor’s errors with ruthless efficiency as Stockdale fed Stewart for his hat-trick and bonus point score.
Stewart’s try-scoring endeavours this season have been remarkable: his three scores tonight is a second hat-trick in as many league games, as well as the hooker having now scored ten tries in his last four URC matches.
Dragons closed the gap again through previous delinquent Dee’s quick snipe from the back of a maul that had more than a hint of the Stewart’s about it before Rhodri Williams’ remarkable turn of pace cut the gap to just seven points.
As the visitors tired, that ruthless streak in Ulster’s play reared its head again as two Ulster replacements in John Andrew and Nick Timoney combined to extend their side’s lead and confirm victory.
You couldn't take your eyes of this one! ??
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) April 14, 2023
.@UlsterRugby take the WIN! ??@Vodacom #URC | #ULSvSCA pic.twitter.com/QCdAqnjpY7