Ulster progress to Challenge Cup semis with comeback win over Northampton
Dan McFarland’s side beat the Saints by eight points to secure place in the last four. By Richard Mulligan Saturday 10 Apr 2021, 10:01 PM 5 hours ago 8,643 Views 32 Comments
Michael Lowry and Rory Hutchinson.
Image: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
Image: Laszlo Geczo/INPHO
Richard Mulligan at Franklin’s Gardens
ULSTER PRODUCED ANOTHER massive result in Europe as they came from behind to defeat Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens and book a place in the Challenge Cup semi-finals later this month.
Failing to take advantage of three yellow cards – Saints down to 13 men at one point during the first quarter – Ulster went in at the break trailing 22-14.
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Ulster face Northampton in tonight’s Challenge Cup quarter-final. By Adam McKendry Saturday 10 Apr 2021, 6:45 AM 1 hour ago 831 Views 0 Comments
McCloskey wants first trophy of his career.
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
Image: James Crombie/INPHO
WHILE LAST WEEK’S game against Harlequins proved something of a damp squib in terms of a contest for Ulster, this week they will be given a much sterner test on their return to England.
Six days on from their 57-21 mauling of Quins, this time the foes are Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens in the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup and, based on the names on the respective team sheets, this one should provide a bigger challenge.
Leinster set to keep the foot down as Saints make maiden RDS trip Leo Cullen brings in six Irish internationals but warns against complacency
Sat, Dec 19, 2020, 06:00
Leinster v Northampton Saints, RDS, Saturday, 1pm – Live on Virgin Media/Channel 4/BT Sport
Already atop Pool A as one of only two sides to obtain a five-point haul in that half of the draw last weekend, an imposing-looking Leinster side have the chance to maintain their push for a place in the knock-out stages and, potentially, something more than that.
Although it’s early days yet, by close of business on Sunday evening we will be halfway through the pool stages, and the prize for topping Pool A would not only ensure playing the second leg of the quarter-finals at home, but would have the additional carrot of home country advantage in the semi-final stages.
THE PARTS CHANGE all the time, but the Leinster machine keeps whirring away.
It might splutter and chug and groan while the maintenance is under way, that’s to be expected even against a much-changed Northampton. But it takes an elite outfit to pick them apart even when they are patching themselves up on the go.
A starting line-up already re-jigged after Caelan Doris withdrew with a calf issue faced a last-minute disruption after the new school out-half Harry Byrne was put through that old school concept, a pre-match fitness test.
The younger Byrne was last to enter the dressing room after a back issue flared in the warm-up and when the players re-emerged, big brother Ross had swiped the number 10 shirt and Cian Kelleher was among the replacements.