DAN McFARLAND praised his troops for a ‘dogged’ display as John Cooney’s try set Ulster on their way to a Champions Cup opening-day victory at Bath’s Rec.
The scrum-half, 29, scored the only touchdown of the first half as Ulster took a one-point lead into the break.
Rob Lyttle added a second after half-time and Jacob Stockdale came up with a crucial interception to seal the win at the death.
Ulster head coach McFarland said: “Today was about the team performance.
“We really dogged that out and nearly beat ourselves at the end.”
Ulster lost 2017 Lions tourist Jack McGrath to a hand injury in the eighth minute but that did not halt their progress.
UPS AND DOWNS
Rhys Priestland missed a penalty and although they spent plenty of time deep in Ulster territory, Bath could not get on the scoreboard in the first quarter.
Scrum-half Will Chudley almost created a try when he blocked down Cooney’s clearance in the 12th minute but two minutes later the roles were reversed.
Chudley looked to kick through but Cooney blocked the attempt with his leg, hacked down field ahead of Priestland’s despairing lunge and touched down for the opening try.
The former Connacht No 9 added the conversion and without throwing a punch in attack, Ulster were 7-0 up.
Lock Sam Carter was the next Ulster player to depart injured just before Freddie Burns — brother of Ulster out-half Billy — landed a huge penalty for Bath from near halfway.
BATTLE HARDENED
As the pressure mounted, Ulster lacked discipline and Bath were back to within the minimum when Marcell Coetzee strayed offside and Burns scored the resultant penalty on the half-hour mark.
But Ulster closed out the opening period better and could have doubled their try tally had Rob Herring not fumbled the ball when through in the 39th minute.
Cooney had a kickable penalty with the last play of the half after Charlie Ewels was pinged for a no-arms tackle.
But the scrum-half missed and the visitors only led 7-6 at the break. Bath attacked from the off on the restart but when they held their composure the Ulster defence was organised and solid.
Ulster weathered the storm and got over for their second try in the 58th minute.
HOLDING ON
It was a simple backline move but Marshall’s pass to Will Addison looked forward.
Nevertheless, the Ulster full-back kicked through and Lyttle followed up to score.
Bath hit back emphatically just two minutes later, when replacement Gabriel Hamer-Webb outpaced Addison to go over in the corner with his first touch.
Bath took the lead for the first time in the 67th minute with Priestland’s penalty from just inside the Ulster half, following Alan O’Connor’s high tackle on England World Cup star Sam Underhill.
But the advantage was short-lived and Ulster were back in front when Zach Mercer was penalised and Cooney slotted his first kick with nine minutes left to play.
Bath came hard again at the death but Stockdale intervened to deny Semesa Rokoduguni a certain try.
SCORERS – Bath: try, G Hamer-Webb; pens, F Burns 2, R Priestland; con, F Burns. Ulster: tries, J Cooney, R Lyttle; pen, J Cooney; cons, J Cooney 2.
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BATH: F Burns; S Rokoduguni, J Joseph, J Roberts, R McConnochie; R Priestland, W Chudley; B Obano, T Dunn, W Stuart; J McNally, C Ewels; M Williams, S Underhill, Z Mercer. Reps: J Bayliss for Williams 39 mins; L Boyce for Obano 49; C Judge for Stuart 60; E Stooke for McNally 60; G Hamer-Webb for McConnochie 60; C Cook for Burns 63; J Walker for Dunn 77; M Wright for Roberts 77.
ULSTER: W Addison; R Lyttle, L Marshall, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; B Burns, J Cooney; J McGrath, R Herring, M Moore; I Henderson, S Carter; M Rea, J Murphy, M Coetzee. Reps: E O’Sullivan for McGrath 8 mins; A O’Connor for Carter 25; S Reidy for Rea 52; A Curtis for Burns 60; T O’Toole for Moore 65; L Ludik for Lyttle 65.
REFEREE: M Mitrea (Rom).