PRO12: Les Kiss delighted with second half delivery

A focused second half performance saw Ulster score four tries and secure a valuable five match points to move them into fifth place in the Guinness PRO12 standings.
By The Newsroom
Published 31st Jan 2016, 23:12 BST
Updated 31st Jan 2016, 23:35 BST
Ulster's Stuart Olding tackled by Tommaso Iannone.Ulster's Stuart Olding tackled by Tommaso Iannone.
Ulster's Stuart Olding tackled by Tommaso Iannone.

After a low key first half which saw Ulster go in at the break leading 6-3 against Benetton Treviso at Stadio Monigo on Saturday, they produced an improved second half.

Stuart Olding, playing his first senior game in 10 months since rupturing his ACL, put the icing on the cake by crossing for the fourth and bonus point securing try.

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Openside Sean Reidy had crossed for the first try on 52 minutes before centre Darren Cave and the livewire Rory Scholes went over on 57 and 63 minutes respectively.

Ian Humphreys kicked both first half penalties and two conversions, Olding landing one from two after moving into the outhalf role from centre when Humphreys was substituted on the hour mark.

The 32-13 win condemned Treviso to their 26th successive defeat.

Ulster director of rugby, Les Kiss, was delighted with the way his side had responded after the break.

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“It was a frustrating first half. We did not play to plan really in that first half. Obviously we had a few changes and that but I would have expected more at half-time.

“We had good words about it at the break and the guys were pretty honest about what they had not delivered.

“In the second half, although we did not start the way I would have liked to, we gradually got into the game got a couple of good mauls going, put them under pressure and dominated field possession and put the points on them.

“It was nice to get five match points.”

Kiss continued his policy of using his young Academy players when selecting the side and Lorcan Dow (back row) and Jacob Stockdale (back) won their first caps coming off the bench.

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Kiss was delighted with both youngsters as well as the way everyone on the bench responded.

“I think the bench, all of them, did exceptionally well.

“It is something we need to have. We moved Stu (Olding) to 10 for the last 20 minutes.

“We wanted to see how he went there. I thought he did well. There are a couple of things to tidy up there.

“For his first game back and to play 80 minutes was good, I am really happy with that,” added Kiss.

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