Cardiff stun Ulster with second-half comeback

Cardiff hooker Dafydd Hughes scored his first senior try

United Rugby Championship

Cardiff (0) 21

Tries: Stephens, Hughes, Young Cons: Sheedy 3

Ulster (19) 19

Tries: Izuchukwu, Postlethwaite 2 Cons: Doak 2

Cardiff pulled off a stunning second-half fightback to beat Ulster and halt their slide down the United Rugby Championship.

The hosts trailed 19-0 at half-time as Jude Postlethwaite scored twice after Cormac Izuchukwu crossed during a costly yellow card for Wales hooker Evan Lloyd.

But man of the match Iwan Stephens inspired the comeback with a spectacular score before replacements Dafydd Hughes and Thomas Young followed.

Callum Sheedy’s three conversions gave Cardiff the lead for the first time just 12 minutes from the final whistle before holding out for the win.

It ended a three-game losing run for Matt Sherratt's side while Ulster will wonder how they missed the chance to go fourth in the table.

Instead, Cardiff’s first win over an Irish province in more than two years saw them move level on points with Ulster, whose miserable night was made worse by Iain Henderson lasting just 24 minutes on his return from concussion.

The Ulster captain was among six changes for both teams, that included Cardiff skipper Ben Thomas.

Wales front-row pair Keiron Assiratti and Lloyd returned alongside Ed Byrne who dominated the scrums.

But Lloyd was shown a yellow card amid a desperate goal-line stand and Ulster seized control with three tries in the next 10 minutes.

Ulster recalled centre Postlethwaite, scrum-half Nathan Doak and flanker Nick Timoney and all three were heavily involved as the visitors seized control with two tries in four minutes.

Timoney was held up over the line before fellow flanker Izuchukwu got over from close range.

Doak’s counter-attack from the right touchline across to the left ended with Postlethwaite slipping through before the centre grabbed a second from another Cardiff kick.

Werner Kok acrobatically kept Callum Sheedy’s clearance in play before Stuart McCloskey’s chip bounced kindly for Postlethwaite’s easy finish.

Henderson departed with his side 19-0 ahead and while Cardiff edged the scrum and Iwan Stephens proved elusive, Ulster soaked up whatever came their way.

Jude Postlethwaite scored twice in the first half

The second half threatened more of the same as handling errors and Lloyd’s errant lineout throwing stifled Cardiff’s attack.

Ben Thomas’ break looked to have sent Mason Grady clear but for Timoney’s last-ditch effort as the grounded wing stretched to score.

But again it was a yellow card that opened the door as Cardiff capitalised on David McCann’s needless interference on scrum-half Aled Davies.

Stephens soared through the sky to score a flamboyant – but deserved – try in the left corner before saving a score by preventing lock Harry Sheridan from touching down beyond the line.

Stephens’ try was Cardiff’s first for more than 100 minutes of play but was swiftly followed by two more as replacements Hughes – his first at senior level – and Young scored from driving lineouts.

Sheedy’s kicking proved the difference as Doak fell short with a long range effort from inside his own half and Ulster faded with it.

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: "I felt this would be a pivotal game for us just before the break after three losses.

"At half time we spoke about the things we needed to put right and I always felt that we could get back into it. We just needed a moment to spark and Iwan [Stephens] try gave us that.

"In the second half we showed the fight we showed all last season and to the experience off the bench helped us close out the game."

Ulster head coach Richie Murphy said: “We’re massively disappointed. When you’re 19-points ahead you should see it out and win the game.

“It was all going to plan in the first half but Cardiff started to come back into it before half time and the way we managed the next ten minutes was poor.

“The yellow card was needless and we just invited Cardiff to attack us and kept giving them a free shot."

He added: “Iain was struggling and we decided we had to take him off and the doctor will check him over. But it was not related to the concussion.”

Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Iwan Stephens; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Ed Byrne, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Daf Hughes, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Thomas Young, Johan Mulder, Rory Jennings.

Sin bin: Lloyd (13)

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Mike Lowry; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (capt), Kieran Treadwell, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, Ben Carson, Ben Moxham.

Sin bin: McCann (48)

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse & Ben Connor (WRU)

TMO: Colin Brett (SRU)