Ulster went top of the Celtic League table in Ravenhill beating Llanelli Scarlets 10-9 on Friday night. Munster defeated The Borders 29-21 in Musgrave but the Dragons fire proved too hot for Leinster.
Ulster went top of the Celtic League table in Ravenhill beating Llanelli Scarlets 10-9 on Friday night. Munster defeated The Borders 29-21 in Musgrave but the Dragons fire was too hot for Leinster.
All the points came in the first half with Ulster's Bryn Cunningham scoring the only try and fly-half Adam Larkin landing a conversion and a penalty.
The Scarlets, who made plenty of changes to their starting line-up, did not give up their top spot easily. They replied with a drop goal from scrum-half Mike Phillips and two penalties from Gareth Bowen. It was a tough fought game with any chances seeming to fall in Ulster's favor, helping them to secure the win.
Full Details at: www.ulsterrugby.ie
A third-minute kick from scrum-half Eoin Reddan saw the Borders concede an early penalty for full-back Jeremy Staunton from 45 metres. Staunton met opposite number Scott Paterson in a try-saving tackle 10 minutes later, before James Blaney touched down by the right touchline.
A lapse in the home side's concentration saw Kane lurch over for his first score six minutes later - with centre Gareth Morton converting and then adding the extras again to second row Scott MacLeod's effort following a timely offload by fly-half Tanner Vili. A shock win looked on the cards when Kane got in under the Munster posts in the 32nd minute, Morton hitting his third success for the 13-point lead.
Horgan ran effortlessly under the posts 10 minutes after the break - with Holland converting - and he then slashed open the Borders rearguard on the hour mark to score a great individual try. Holland's conversion gave Alan Gaffney's men their one-point lead with 18 minutes left. Munster survived a late scare when Vili's attempted drop goal was charged down by Holland, and centre Rob Henderson crossed in the seventh minute of stoppage for a converted try and an unlikely bonus-point win.
Full Details at: www.munsterrugby.ie
The Dragons looked strong from the outset and maintained their challenge at the top of the Celtic League with a bonus-point win over Leinster. The strong home pack was the key to a convincing win over the Lions, who badly missed their international stars in the wind and rain at Rodney Parade.
Leinster managed a Christian Warner try and nine points from Brian O'Meara. The Dragons tries came from Percy Montgomery, Sione Tuipulotu, Shawn van Rensburg, Adam Black, and debut-making Springbok-star Bob Skinstad.
Full Details at: www.leinsterrugby.ie