Tommy Bowe was delighted to get 80 minutes under his belt for Ulster last night despite it being a 30-25 Pro12 defeat to Connacht.
Bowe made a substitute appearance last week, but started his first match for the Ulster men since March at the Sportsground to complete a long journey back following a knee injury.
And while not fully up to speed, Bowe was just happy to continue his progression towards full match-fitness.
"At times I felt I was able to get into it and other times I felt I was just standing there doing nothing"
The Ireland winger told RTÉ Sport: “Delighted to be back on the pitch. You know it’s been a long getting here, but the result is disappointing. It’s a very disappointed changing room.
“But hats off to Connacht, they played some great rugby and we really struggled to contain them for large periods in the game.”
While Bowe completed the 80 minutes, he knows there’s still some way to go before his sharpness returns.
“I felt comfortable enough. Last week when I came off the bench, I was only on for 20 minutes and I was blowing wanting to come off after five!
“Today it was stop and start. At times I felt I was able to get into it and other times I felt I was just standing there doing nothing.
“But listen, it’s 80 minutes on the pitch. For me, from where I’ve been last year and the struggles I’ve been through to get myself on to this pitch, I’m just delighted to be out there.
“I felt pretty sharp when I get the ball in hand but obviously there’s a little bit of rust in there that I have to work off, so hopefully I’ll get a bit more game time and try and work that out.”
