Cardiff 29 - 26 Ulster

Full time

13 Dec 2025

Stage: Pool 3 Round 2

Cardiff Arms Park

🔥 2

Cardiff Rugby triumphed over Ulster Rugby with a close score of 29-26 in a thrilling Challenge Cup clash. George Nott and Tom Bowen both scored early tries for Cardiff, with Halfpenny converting both to give them a 14-0 lead. Ulster responded with tries from Tom Stewart and James Hume, narrowing the gap significantly before halftime. In the second half, Werner Kok scored twice for Ulster, showcasing his prowess, while Cardiff fought back with a try from Danny Southworth. Callum Sheedy's accurate kicking helped maintain Cardiff's lead, even as both teams faced yellow cards. The game remained intensely competitive, with Ulster's late efforts falling just short. Ultimately, Cardiff held on for a hard-fought victory at the Cardiff Arms Park.

Broadcasters

Where to watch in: United Kingdom

Weather

Temperature: 8.3°C (Feels like 5.2°C) Condition: Cloudy Wind: 13.6 km/h, gusting to 26.7 km/h Humidity: 85% Cloud Cover: 90%

Highlights

Events

Kickoff
6'

Try

George Nott · Cardiff

5 - 0
7'

Conversion

Leigh Halfpenny · Cardiff

7 - 0
12'

Try

Tom Bowen · Cardiff

12 - 0
16'

Substitution

Bradley McNamara on for Stewart Moore · Ulster
21'

Try

Tom Stewart · Ulster

12 - 5
21'

Substitution

Stewart Moore on for Bradley McNamara · Ulster
22'

Conversion

Jake Flannery · Ulster

12 - 7
31'

Substitution

Sam Wainwright on for Keiron Assiratti · Cardiff
39'

Try

James Hume · Ulster

12 - 12
40'

Conversion

Jake Flannery · Ulster

12 - 14
40'

Substitution

Evan Lloyd on for Dafydd Hughes · Cardiff
Halftime 12 - 14
Second Half
44'

Try

Werner Kok · Ulster

12 - 19
49'

Substitution

Cormac Izuchukwu on for Charlie Irvine · Ulster
49'

Substitution

Angus Bell on for Sam Crean · Ulster
49'

Substitution

Juarno Augustus on for Sean Reffell · Ulster
51'

Substitution

Danny Southworth on for Rhys Barratt · Cardiff
51'

Substitution

Josh McNally on for George Nott · Cardiff
53'

Try

Werner Kok · Ulster

12 - 24
54'

Conversion

Jake Flannery · Ulster

12 - 26
57'

Substitution

Cameron Winnett on for Leigh Halfpenny · Cardiff
59'

Substitution

Rory McGuire on for Tom O'Toole · Ulster
59'

Substitution

John Andrew on for Tom Stewart · Ulster
64'

Try

Danny Southworth · Cardiff

19 - 26
64'

Conversion

Callum Sheedy · Cardiff

14 - 26
66'

Substitution

Jacob Beetham on for Tom Bowen · Cardiff
67'

Yellow Card

James Botham · Cardiff
67'

Yellow Card

Harry Sheridan · Ulster
67'

Substitution

Dave Shanahan on for Conor McKee · Ulster
67'

Substitution

Bradley McNamara on for Stewart Moore · Ulster
71'

Yellow Card

Ben Carson · Ulster
72'

Try

Dan Thomas · Cardiff

24 - 26
73'

Conversion

Callum Sheedy · Cardiff

26 - 26
75'

Substitution

Lucas de la Rua on for Dan Thomas · Cardiff
75'

Substitution

Ellis Bevan on for Aled Davies · Cardiff
75'

Substitution

James Humphreys on for Jake Flannery · Ulster
77'

Yellow Card Complete

James Botham · Cardiff
77'

Yellow Card Complete

Harry Sheridan · Ulster
80'

Penalty

Callum Sheedy · Cardiff

29 - 26
Fulltime 29 - 26

Player ratings

Cardiff

15 Leigh Halfpenny 6.9
14 Josh Adams 6.0
13 Harri Millard 6.9
12 Ben Thomas 9.8
11 Tom Bowen 7.5
10 Callum Sheedy 7.2
9 Aled Davies 6.6
1 Rhys Barratt 6.9
2 Dafydd Hughes 7.6
3 Keiron Assiratti 6.7
4 George Nott 7.8
5 Rory Thornton 8.0
6 James Botham 7.4
7 Dan Thomas 8.4
8 Alun Lawrence 8.2
16 Evan Lloyd 7.1
17 Danny Southworth 7.9
18 Sam Wainwright 6.9
19 Josh McNally 6.3
20 Lucas de la Rua –
21 Ellis Bevan –
22 Jacob Beetham 6.3
23 Cameron Winnett 6.7

Ulster

15 Stewart Moore 6.0
14 Werner Kok 7.5
13 James Hume 7.3
12 Ben Carson 5.0
11 Zac Ward 7.1
10 Jake Flannery 6.6
9 Conor McKee 6.5
1 Sam Crean 6.6
2 Tom Stewart 8.0
3 Tom O'Toole 5.9
4 Harry Sheridan 5.6
5 Charlie Irvine 6.1
6 David McCann 7.0
7 Sean Reffell 7.1
8 Bryn Ward 6.9
16 John Andrew 6.0
17 Angus Bell 6.5
18 Rory McGuire 6.1
19 Cormac Izuchukwu 5.9
20 Juarno Augustus 6.3
21 Dave Shanahan 5.8
22 James Humphreys –
23 Bradley McNamara 6.0