Unbelievable stuff, in so many different ways.
Ulster led, but Bath were hunting them down and they were on the charge.
From the moment John Cooney kicked Ulster into a 17-16 lead with 71 minutes on the clock at the Rec, you just knew it was going to be the longest nine minutes of the Ulster players’ lives.
The Heineken Champions Cup, the first pool game and a good start is crucial. Away from home, a win would have been absolutely priceless for Ulster.
They put themselves into a good position. Cooney scored a block-down try before Rob Lyttle made hay from Will Addison’s brave kick forward.
And that takes us up to the last few minutes. Bath were breathing down their necks but Ulster were defending stoically. Sean Reidy was hitting hard and captain Iain Henderson was leading by example.
The clock rolled into the red. Bath were in possession of the ball and they looked dangerous. One last push for them, one last block for Ulster.
Priestland, their elusive fly half, created an overlap. Ulster heads were in hands. They looked in bother.
Arise Jacob Stockdale.
He stepped up when he needed to, smashing the Bath centre as a two-on-one beckoned. Somehow, the Bath player had managed to off-load the ball in time though.
The danger wasn’t clear yet. Jacob Stockdale was well aware of that.
It came to their number eight Mercer who headed for home and looked nailed on to give the offload. As he delayed for a split second, Stockdale ate up the ground in front of him to cover back.
He took a chance. Guessed that Mercer would go for the off-load and somehow got back for the intercept. The coolness under pressure can’t be overstated. Look at the point he gives to his scrum half indicating for him to stay put.
It was composure, it was work-rate, it was pure and utter power. It was amazing stuff in the last minute of the game.
Take a bow Jacob Stockdale.
Woaahh Jacob Stockdale 🤯🤯
An astonishing piece of defending to save the win for Ulster 👏pic.twitter.com/6JUxHmvd2V
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) November 16, 2019
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