It
was a nervous opening twenty minutes with Ulster
spending the bulk of this time in defence. Ulster were fortunate
that they came out of this period only three points down.
From then on Ulster upped their
game and applied constant pressure playing with power and pace and
it was no surprise when Ryan Caldwell went over with O'Connor converting.
Neil Best, Dawson and Ferris started
to get on top of their opposite numbers and it appeared that it
was only going to be a matter of time before Ulster cut loose. Danielli
and Bowe looked powerful on the ball and they both made searing
runs on several occasions.
Dragons absorbed a lot of pressure
and it wasn't until their prop Black got red carded that the flood
gates opened.
Despite spirited defence Rory
Best went over from a line out move to be followed by Cunningham
and Hugo to secure the bonus point.
Danielli added a well deserved
fifth and Wallace, who was now orchestrating the midfield, made
a jinking break for the sixth with Dawson converting as the result
of a training bet.
The Dragons got one back with
practically the last kick but the crowd went home happy, especially
local man David McCartney who has been recovering from a 'mystery
illness!' "That was great", he said,
"even better than City beating United last weekend!"
Despite Tommy Bowe getting a few
mentions The FRU Man of the Match
goes to Stephen Ferris for his
powerhouse performance.
In
The Scoop Bar after the game it was as if a huge
weight had been lifted off the crowd. Young Man bought everyone
Bombay Sapphire and Magners and it was free beanies all round!
The FRU were pleased to audition four more Fruettes (right) who
had arrived up from Newry on a Bryan Young and Tommy Bowe and
Isacc Boss and Simon Danielli and Bryn Cunningham stalking night
out!!
The FRU CEO Dewi Barnes introduced himself to the girls as "A
close friend of the players",and after some hard bargaining
Dewi was delighted to complete the signing of the gorgeous Áine(left)asChief
of Public Relations,
Government Affairs
and Marketing Communications!
Mr Barnes welcomed Áine by stating, "While The
FRU may be the first in the Ulster Rugby family to consider public
relations, Government affairs and marketing communications we
are happy to welcome Áine to our happy ship secure in the
knowledge that, according to her friends, she looks great in a
t-shirt and
makes a lovely cup of tea!
Mr Barnes continued, "We also thought of starting Martina
(right) as a PR Executive but she's obviously mad!"
Also in the Scoop we noticed the re-forming of the ever popular
"City Swingers" (left) who perform once every
five years when Manchester City actually manage to beat United!
While sorting through our pictures I came across these snaps
that I had stored in the wrong place and had omitted from earlier
galleries. Thanks to Stevie, Gary and Alan for sending them in.
Pictures include Keith Wood, Abdel Benazzi, The Bear, Hugo, Hugo's'
sisters and a drunken Dewi - enjoy!!
Ulster
Rugger wish to appoint atea wallah
to provide a constant supply of Darjeeling or Earl
Grey to four 'old farts' wrestling with the dashed complexities
of professional rugger. Must have own turban.
Only chaps with top hole credentials or who know someone from
Malone RFC need apply. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert souvenir
tray will be supplied. All interviews will be held in the Drawing
Room at Ravenhill.
Caption Competition!
What
is Pervy Fan doing with the young lady in the above
picture?
The
FRU has been alerted to the sensational news that
the Second Barrier Crew are contemplating a move to another barrier
within the Ravenhill Rugby complex.
Thoughts about the move have been prompted by fears
that global warming will eventually thaw the Polar ice caps and
completely submerge the Second Barrier Crew unless they move. Scientists
have predicted that only the top three inches of Holywood Mike's
Japanese flag pole will remain above the water level should this
worst case scenario happen. It must be said that the same scientists
are a bit vague about when this doomsday event will take place though
they are confident it will be before Colzo enters into a meaningful
relationship with a female or before Ulster qualify for the knock
out stages of the Heineken Cup.
Although the event will be one of the smallest
mass migrations in the history of mass migrations, Second Barrier
Crew spokesman Cap'n Grumpy said, "The logistics of the
move are frightening but as responsible boo-boys and jeer leaders
we have to plan for all contingencies. By the time the stragglers
etc are finally roped in we will have had to survive for up to two
hours on nothing but food and drink!"
It is thought that some people will make comparisons
with the Children of Israel coming out of Egypt but most impartial
observers agree that the Second Barrier Crew's move will have
no historical, or other significance, whatsoever!
~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~
Did You Know?
England
winger Hal Sever ran into trouble in the dying minutes
of a match against Scotland in 1938. With his side trailing by just
two points, Sever cut back inside and looked to score, but instead
he ran straight into one of the uprights.
The dazed Sever dropped the ball and Scotland ran
away to score at the other end, clinching the match and the championship.
From THE TRIVIA LOVERS'
GUIDE TO RUGBY
~
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Rugby on TV
Friday 22nd February
16:00 Cheetahs v Western Force Super 14 Sky Sports Xtra (16:00-18:00)
18:05 Bulls v Crusaders Super 14 Sky Sports Xtra (18:00-20:00)
19:00 Castre v Stade Francais Top 14 British Eurosport 2 (19:00-20:45)
19:10 Wales v Italy U20 International BBC2 Wales (19:00-21:00)
BBC Interactive (19:00-21:00)
Saturday 23rd February
06:35 Chiefs v Waratahs Super 14 Sky Sports Xtra (06:30-08:30)
08:40 Brumbies v Highlanders Super 14 Sky Sports Xtra (08:30-10:30)
15:00 Wales v Italy Six Nations BBC1 (14:50-16:50) BBC Interactive
(14:50-16:50) BBC HD (15:00-17:10) S4C
17:00 Ireland v Scotland Six Nations BBC1 (16:50-19:00) BBC Interactive
(16:50-19:00)
20:00 France v England Six Nations BBC1 (19:50-22:00)BBC Interactive
(19:50-22:00)
Sunday 24th February
18:00 Saracens v Harlequins Guinness Premiership Sky Sports 1
(18:00-20:00) Sky Sports HD1 (18:00-20:00)
Friday 29th February
16:30 Lions v Western Force Super 14 Sky Sports 2 (16:30-18:30)
18:35 Stormers v Crusaders Super 14 Sky Sports 2 (18:30-20:30)
19:10 Dragons v Edinburgh Magners League BBC2 Wales (19:00-21:00)
BBC Interactive (19:00-21:00)
19:30 Connacht v Leinster Magners League Setanta Sports 2 (19:25-21:45)
19:30 Ulster v Scarlets Magners League Setanta Ireland (19:30-21:45
in Ireland only)
19:30 Montauban v Montpellier Top 14 British Eurosport 2 (19:30-21:15)
I
close friend of the players",and after some hard bargaining
Dewi was delighted to complete the signing of the gorgeous 
and
makes a lovely cup of tea! 
~
~ ~
