Caerphilly v Ulster

Half-time: Caerphilly 8 - Ulster 27
Celtic league fixture played home at Virginia Park on Saturday 5th October 2002
Attendance 1,000
Referee: John Steele (Scotland), Touch Judges: Phil Fear (Llanharan), Phil Harrhy (Gilwern), Hopkin Thomas (Bridgend)

FOR Caerphilly coach Mark Ring and his brave bunch of battlers this was perhaps one Celtic League match too far.
The Cheesemen have managed to rouse themselves for much of this campaign with a series of courageous performances that have deserved a lot more than the three bonus points they have gained.
Caerphilly's bold show against Llanelli stands out as a beacon of light as the Scarlets crushed Swansea on Friday night yet the Castletown men ran them very close.

Saturday's clash at Virginia Park was certainly not one to put into that bracket however.
They would do well to forget about this game, with Harlequins on the horizon and the Welsh League kicking-off in a few weeks.

Ring was already looking ahead to the Parker Pen cup clash against Harlequins, saying that he will not be going through tactics with Paul Turner, his opposite number at the club, and best friend. "We spend most of the week on the phone, usually, talking through moves and players. I will take the phone off the hook this week though," he said.

There will be lessons that he is sure to take from the defeat on Saturday however. Caerphilly gave away a lot of penalties in the first-half and it gave Ulster the initiative early on.
David Humphreys took full advantage for Ulster and hit four penalties in the first 20 minutes to put the away side twelve points to the good.

Shortly after it was 17-0 when Tony McWhirter was on the end of a great team move to power over for the opening try.
Fionn McLaughlin reduced the deficit with a penalty for Caerphilly after a mid-half spell of pressure from the home side.

Early substitute Shane Stewart was having a big impact on the game and after setting up the first try he scored the second with five minutes of the first-half remaining.
The stage looked set for a tighter second-half after Caerphilly earned a try just before the interval.

A decisive move started by wing Taunaholo Taufehema ended with Allen Chilten putting five more points on the board. The second-half battle did not materialise and Ulster ran in six more tries.
Two of them came from another substitute Neil Best, underlining the strength in depth of the Irishmen.
Tyrone Howe went over for the last of them after a delicate kick and run that fooled the Caerphilly defence.

Ulster kicker Humphreys was outstanding throughout and by the end had five penalties and six conversions to his name.
The home side got a consolation near the end when Chilten was left in the clear after an interception.
Hopefully Caerphilly can put this match behind them and put up a good show against Harlequins, in preparation for the Welsh league.

Feao Vunipola in the new Kooga shirt

Match report courtesy of Chris Slavin (Caerphilly Campaign)
Pictures by Mark Tamplin and John Harris