Connacht came with a late burst at the Sportsground but it was not enough to prevent Ulster from going back to the summit of the Magners League.

MAGNERS LEAGUE: Friday, October 6

CONNACHT 17 ULSTER 24, The Sportsground (Att: 1,687)

Scorers: Connacht: Tries: Matt Mostyn, Paul Warwick; Cons: Paul Warwick 2; Pen: Warwick

Ulster: Tries: Roger Wilson, Isaac Boss, Bryn Cunningham; Cons: David Humphreys 2, Paddy Wallace; Pen: Humphreys

Full-Time - CONNACHT 17 ULSTER 24

80+5 mins: Somehow, despite losing three men to the bin and with Ulster stepping off the gas, Connacht have snatched a losing bonus point - right at the death. With the last kick of the game, Warwick belts over a penalty from all of halfway to secure what could turn out to be a vital point for the westerners in the long run - Connacht 17 Ulster 24

80+3 mins: It's quickly turning into the Paul Warwick show here - the Aussie out-half sent a delightful chip over the top for winger Matt Mostyn to race onto and he won the race to his own hack ahead to notch Connacht's second try. Warwick added the extras - Connacht 14 Ulster 24

74 mins: Warwick is proving to be a menace for the Ulster defence and he races over for Connacht's first points, six minutes from time. The former Australian Sevens captain tags on the conversion - Connacht 7 Ulster 24

71 mins: Ulster look well on the way to nabbing a fourth try for a well-deserved bonus point. Their third touchdown arrived in the 70th-minute when the visitors' pack rumbled forward, Wallace and Maggs combined in midfield and Bryn Cunningham timed his run from full-back excellently to go over in the corner.

It's 'anything you can do, I can do better' time as Wallace thumps over the conversion from a horrible angle, matching Humphreys' heroics from the touchline - Connacht 0 Ulster 24

68 mins: Connacht were down to 13 men for a short while. Paul Warwick, who came on for Rigney while McHugh was in the bin, will remain on the pitch with Matt Lacey also coming on and McHugh and Rigney sitting out the remainder of the game

66 mins: Connacht's woe continues as replacement winger Ted Robinson is yellow carded for a dangerous spear tackle challenge on Humphreys. The latter has taken a while to come back to his feet, he's got a neck injury and is being replaced by Scott Young. Wallace slots in at number 10

56 mins: After Maggs was stopped short and McHugh intervened, Ulster wasted little time in getting that second try - Boss makes it over in the left corner after a deft switch with influential centre Maggs. Humphreys brilliantly swings over the conversion from the touchline - Connacht 0 Ulster 17

55 mins: Unfortunately for the hosts, their out-half McHugh has just been sin-binned for the second time in the space of seven days.

The former Ireland international was carded for slowing up ball after flanker Stephen Ferris had led an inspirational break-out from the Ulster 22 and a dummy pass to Kevin Maggs saw the visitors almost get over for their second try

48 mins: Plenty of pressure from Connacht so far in this half, they have Ulster on the backfoot but really need to score soon

Second Half: Kick-Off: Mark McHugh restarts for Connacht, who will be looking to use the wind to eat into Ulster's ten-point lead

Half-Time - CONNACHT 0 ULSTER 10

40+2 mins: With Connacht offside, Ulster opt to go for the posts, using their sizeable wind advantage and Humphreys lands the kick for a 10-0 lead - Connacht 0 Ulster 10

38 mins: Ulster flanker Stephen Ferris is down with an arm injury but he looks okay to continue

35 mins: Territorially it's all Ulster as Connacht are camped in their own half - they give away another penalty, Humphreys kicks to the corner but the move peters out with Neil Best ruled offside

32 mins: Number eight Roger Wilson powers over for a try for Ulster. The move came straight after Rigney's sin-binning. Ulster opted for a scrum, five metres out, and the ball was popped by Isaac Boss to Wilson who drove over from close range. Humphreys easily converts - Connacht 0 Ulster 7

31 mins: Connacht have lost number eight Colm Rigney to a yellow card - he was sent to the sidelines for killing the ball on the home side's line as Ulster pressed with Humphreys burrowing for the hard yards

27 mins: Ulster centre Paddy Wallace has had a try disallowed for crossing. Lovely cut-out pass from Humphreys set up the chance. Connacht have coughed up six penalties so far to the visitors so something has got to give - Ireland winger Andrew Trimble just made an excellent 20-yard break, but again Connacht frustrate the league champions with their smothering defence

20 mins: Humphreys got hit there with a heavy tackle - looks like a shoulder up into his face - but he is fit enough to continue. The stiffening wind is proving to be a problem, a lot of passes are going astray when play is forced wide. It's dry underfoot

16 mins: Credit to the Connacht pack, they've been very disciplined so far. Excellent defensive effort from them and when the ball comes their way, they are keeping it in the tight and beavering away

13 mins: Ulster are just showing a lack of composure when a score looks on - winger Andrew Maxwell was the guilty party seconds ago when he knocked on with the try line at his mercy

First Half: Kick-Off: Backed by a blustery wind in the opening half, Ulster's David Humphreys gets the game underway

Team News: Connacht have made two changes to the side that lost to Leinster for the visit of Ulster to the Sportsground.

Samoan Ray Ofisa will make his first competitive start for the province - he comes in for Matt Lacey, who drops to the bench, at openside flanker. The other alteration sees Keith Matthews come back in on the left wing in place of Conor McPhillips (hamstring).

Scrum half Conor O'Loughlin (shoulder), prop Ronan Loughney (knee), hooker Joe Merrigan (foot), lock David McGowan (hamstring) and prop Stephen Knoop (back) are all currently nursing injuries.

Ulster have made three changes to their starting line-up - New Zealand centre Paul Steinmetz has not fully recovered from a shoulder injury and is replaced by Kevin Maggs in the centre, while Ireland winger Tommy Bowe (hamstring) is also ruled out - Andrew Maxwell is promoted back to the right wing. Scott Young has also been drafted onto the replacements bench.

In the back row, Stephen Ferris starts this week ahead of Neil McMillan.

Connacht: Daniel Riordan; Matt Mostyn, Darren Yapp, Gavin Williams, Keith Matthews; Mark McHugh, Chris Keane; Brett Wilkinson, John Fogarty (capt), Ray Hogan, David Gannon, Andrew Farley, John Muldoon, Ray Ofisa, Colm Rigney.

Replacements: Adrian Flavin, Brett Sturgess, Michael Swift, Matt Lacey, Tom Tierney, Paul Warwick, Ted Robinson.

Ulster: Bryn Cunningham; Andrew Maxwell, Kevin Maggs, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble; David Humphreys, Isaac Boss; Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best, Bryan Young, Justin Harrison (capt), Matt McCullough, Neil Best, Stephen Ferris, Roger Wilson.

Replacements: Paul Shields, Declan Fitzpatrick, Tim Barker, Kieron Dawson, Neil McMillan, Kieran Campbell, Scott Young.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Touch Judges: Olan Trevor, Trevor Collins (both Ireland)