Stuart McCloskey showed great improvisation to score Ulster's opening try in their game against Harlequins tonight. Out-half Christian Lealiifano's cross-field kick looked to be snapped up by Harlequins full back Ross Chisholm, until McCluskey had other ideas.
Ulster lead 6-0 after 10 minutes thanks to John Cooney's two penalties. Harlequins fired back four minutes later with a try of their own through wonder kid Marcus Smith, showing great feet and acceleration to outrun John Cooney in the corner.
McCloskey then put Ulster ahead with his impressive try, chasing a Lealiifano kick that Harlequins' Chisholm appeared to gather easily, but McCloskey stuck his foot out, nicking the ball away from Brown to touch down in the corner on 18 minutes, before Harlequins got their second try of the through Charlie Walker to make a one point game. Cooney stretched Ulster's lead from the tee to 16-12 on the stroke of half time.
Ultimately Ulster won a throughly entertaining 10 try game, winning 52-24 to keep the European Champions Cup hopes alive with two games remaining.
Watch Stuart McCloskey's try below:
Brian O'Driscoll would have been proud of that improvisation but upon watching the replay, he described it as, "In these parts thats, called a bit of a Ronnie Whelan, off his shin." Superb banter from the former Leinster man.
McCloskey has represented Ireland on two occasions but he appears to have fallen down Joe Schmidt's pecking order for a place in the centre of in the Irish squad after the November International's. Having played in Ireland's closer than expected 23-20 victory over Fiji, Munster's Chris Farrell and Bundee Aki seized their opportunity in Ireland's 28-19 victory over Argentina the following week.
