OSPREYS: Seven-try Ulster too strong for heavily rotated Ospreys in Belfast

Ulster ran in seven tries to beat the Ospreys 45-28 in a high-scoring pre-season encounter at the Affidea Stadium in Belfast on Friday night.

The Welsh region crossed four times in their last run-out before the United Rugby Championship season kicks off in a fortnight, putting vital minutes into the legs of 30 players.

A frenetic first half produced seven tries between the sides, Ulster showing their class out wide while the Ospreys pack held its own at the set piece. Some missed opportunities denied the visitors the chance to close the gap.

The Ospreys started brightly on the ball, Australian centre Lalakai Foketi bursting through with a tenacious carry that left several Ulster defenders trailing.

But the first try went to the hosts. A quick break through the middle put the Ospreys on the back foot, and Ireland Under-20s wing Aitzol Arenzana-King finished on the right touchline a few phases later.

Ulster’s second came soon after. A break by back-row David McCann was halted by Keelan Giles, but the flanker offloaded to scrum-half Conor McKee to finish.

The Ospreys responded through their forwards, a strong lineout and maul letting Luke Davies dart through a gap to send lock Rhys Davies over. Harri Wilde, the on-loan fly-half on kicking duty, converted.

Arenzana-King’s hat-trick stretches the lead

Ulster hit straight back, the ball worked wide for Arenzana-King to show a neat turn of pace and finish down the right for his second.

Grit got the Ospreys back into it. After winning a penalty in the Ulster 22, Wilde kicked to the corner and the driving maul did the rest, co-captain Sam Parry barging over for a trademark finish.

Ulster’s fourth felt inevitable as pressure built on the Ospreys 22, hooker James McCormick finding space on the wing before sending McCann over under pressure from Tom Rogers.

Arenzana-King then completed his hat-trick from a deft overlap on the stroke of half-time, leaving the Ospreys 31-14 behind at the break.

A late double, but Ulster finish it off

The second half turned attritional as both sides emptied their benches, the players building match fitness ahead of the competitive season.

Wing Chay Mullins carried on where the hosts left off, finishing well out wide to all but seal it.

The Ospreys dug in for a quick-fire double, Luke Morgan slicing through a gap after patient phases from a lineout, and centre Evardi Boshoff touching down minutes later in similar fashion.

But Ulster had the last word. Mullins grabbed his second after another well-worked attack, replacement fly-half Jake Flannery converting to close out a 45-28 win.

The Ospreys’ attention now turns to the real thing, Mark Jones’ side opening away to the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban on Saturday 26 September.

Ospreys

Tom Rogers, Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin (co-captain), Lalakai Foketi, Keelan Giles, Harri Wilde, Luke Davies, Cam Jones, Sam Parry (co-captain), Rhys Henry, Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton, Liam Wright, Ross Moriarty, Morgan Morris.

Replacements

Steffan Thomas, Lewis Lloyd, Tom Botha, James Ratti, Ben Roberts, Harri Deaves, Gwilym Evans, Morgan Morse, Nick Fisk-Jones, Steffan Jac Jones, Iestyn Hopkins, Keiran Williams, Evardi Boshoff, Harri Houston, Lewis Edwards, Efan Daniel, Kian Hire.

Ulster

Michael Lowry, Chay Mullins, James Hume, Jamie Benson, Aitzol Arenzana-King, Jack Murphy, Conor McKee; Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick, Eduardo Bello, Ben Donnell, Eli Snyman, David McCann, Martin Moloney, James McNabney.

Replacements

Tom McAllister, Henry Walker, Flynn Longstaff, Harry Sheridan, Joe Hopes, James McKillop, Tom Brigg, Jake Flannery, Daniel Hawkshaw, Ben Carson.