ULSTER 52-24 HARLEQUINS
Kyle Sinckler was having a decent game until Harlequins found themselves 14 points down with 20 minutes to play.
The Quins and England prop had landed a number of lusty tackles and made some good ground on carries during Friday's Champions Cup clash at Kingspan Stadium. The English side displayed a lot of fight and fought to the death despite being dead and buried in their pool even before kick-off.
Ulster were buoyed by a couple of recent signings and contract extensions, not to mention the excellent win over Quins at The Stoop last weekend, and they ran roughshod in Belfast.
Stockdale was an absolute joy to behold. Not only did he do a job on his own flank - in attack and defence - he also looped around to do damage on the right wing and link up with his teammates for a couple of tries.
Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy and Charles Piutau had all scored tries, with John Cooney adding 16 more points, to make it 31-12 before Ross Chisholm's return scored typified the visitor's spirit. Sinckler then ruined all such momentum is team might have been hoping for with an utterly brainless act.
Stockdale received the ball on the left and chipped ahead only for Sinckler to step directly into his path and shoulder him to the chest. Stockdale needed some attention on the pitch but justice was done as Sinckler was sent to the sin-bin amid a chorus of boos.
https://twitter.com/CaptainJack_94/status/941779033917939712
https://twitter.com/gerardoleary101/status/941778281195487232
https://twitter.com/graemegilx/status/941778941873754112
https://twitter.com/NcjFloorfurns/status/941779019783114753
Stockdale came up with the perfect response, seconds after Sinckler was yellow-carded, when he scorched up the left flank and made another line break before being brought down, five metres away from the tryline. Lock Alan O'Connor finished off his good work by picking, driving and diving over for the bonus point score.
Stockdale left the fray, five minute later to a great reception. Once again, he logged some impressive match figures.
https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/941780390913683456
Sinckler, meanwhile, never got back on. He was substituted while stewing on the sidelines as Ulster closed out another fine win.
