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Page last updated at 18:58 GMT, Friday, 19 February 2010

Ulster 22-22 Dragons

Ulster (17) 22
Tries: Wallace, Danielli Pens: Humphreys 4
Dragons (12) 22
Try: Jones Cons: Tovey Pens: Tovey 4 Drop-Goal: Tovey

Ulster scrum-half Issac Boss is tackled by Wayne Evans at Ravenhill
Ulster scrum-half Issac Boss is tackled by Wayne Evans at Ravenhill

A fine kicking display from Jason Tovey secured a Magners League draw for the Dragons at Ravenhill on Friday night.

Tovey and Ian Humphreys each scored four first-half penalties and it was a try from Paddy Wallace which gave Ulster a 17-12 lead at the break.

The Welsh visitors levelled with a converted Steve Jones try only for Simon Danielli to go over to put Ulster back in front.

Tovey equalised with a drop-goal and the Dragons held firm for the draw.

Ulster made a strong start and Humphreys slotted over his first penalty after two minutes.

The Welsh visitors equalised through a Tovey penalty eight minutes later and Humphreys restored Ulster's lead before the Dragons fly-half brought the teams level again.

Wallace sprinted over in the corner on 24 minutes after a fine passing move involving Humphreys, Darren Cave and Dan Tuohy.

606: DEBATE

Humphreys missed the conversion but made no mistake with a penalty four minutes later.

Dragons centre Rhodri Gomer-Davies was sin-binned in the 29th minute for deliberately slowing the ball down and Humphreys converted the resulting penalty.

Tovey kicked over his third penalty before Ulster hooker Rory Best, who is set to replace the banned Jerry Flannery in the Ireland team, was sent to the sin-bin six minutes from the break for illegal use of the foot.

Tovey punished the offence by firing over another three points while Humphreys missed a penalty just before half-time.

The Dragons drew level at 17-17 five minutes after the restart when Jones broke free from a line-out move and stretched his arm out to touch down.

Luke Charteris and Jason Tovey show the battling qualities that keep the Dragons in contention in a tough first half against Ulster at Ravenhill

Scrum V Ulster v Dragons analysis

Tovey's conversion gave his team the lead for the first time in the game but Ulster were back in front after 50 minutes.

Cave made the crucial break before Jamie Smith's flicked pass allowed Danielli the space to go over in the corner.

Humphreys missed the conversion and it was all-square once again thanks to Tovey's drop-goal on 53 minutes.

Humphreys wasted two good opportunities to put Ulster back in front, coming up short with a 62nd-minute penalty and then drifting a drop-goal attempt wide four minutes from time.


Dragons coach Paul Turner:
"That's two points won, this is always a difficult place to come.

"We've had a good week, there was huge commitment from the players. They showed a lot of composure, that's great from us and we'll build off this.

"Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate furthered their cause. Luke is a good man, he just gets on with it.

"That was another good performance from Jason Tovey."


Ulster: Smith, Trimble, Cave, Wallace, Danielli, Humphreys, Boss, Young, Best, Botha, Tuohy, O'Donoghue, Anderson, Pollock, Henry.
Replacements: Whitten for Smith (63), Nagusa for Danielli (68), D. Fitzpatrick for Young (57), Caldwell for O'Donoghue (57), Diack for Anderson (57), Brady for Pollock (73). Not Used: Porter.

Dragons: M. Thomas, Harries, Riley, Gomer-Davies,Brew, Tovey, W. Evans, Gustafson, S. Jones, Palmer, Sidoli, Charteris, Lydiate, G. Thomas, Webb.
Replacements: Watkins for Gomer-Davies (66), Willis for S. Jones (54), Castle for Palmer (53), A. Jones for Sidoli (50), Harris for Webb (53). Not Used: Arlidge, Leadbeater.

Att: 7,909

Referee: Peter Allan (SRU)



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see also
Ulster to be world's best - Logan
16 Feb 10 |  Ulster
Magners Celtic League 2009/10
14 Jul 09 |  Rugby Union
RaboDirect Pro12 table
09 Aug 06 |  Tables
Regional rugby archive
07 Jul 03 |  Welsh
Coming up next on Scrum V...
03 Nov 08 |  Welsh
BBC Sport NI coverage
05 Aug 11 |  Northern Ireland
BBC Scotland programme guide
26 Jul 09 |  Scotland
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales


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