Ulster dropped to fourth in the GUINNESS PRO12 table as the Scarlets deservedly held on for a 21-20 victory which elevates the Welsh outfit to third in a fascinating race to reach the play-offs.
Sublime tries from Craig Gilroy and Luke Marshall notwithstanding, Ulster failed to properly click into gear at KIngspan Stadium, and will rue the defensive frailties which allowed Scarlets full-back Michael Collins in for two well-worked first half tries, and a lack of penetration which saw them fail to convert ample possession time in the opposing 22.
With Rory Best unavailable through international commitments and Rob Herring nursing a hamstring injury, Paddy Jackson skippered his province for the first time and John Andrew got his first full cap at hooker.
There was also a huge personal milestone for number 8 Roger Wilson, who collected his 200th Ulster cap to join Andrew Trimble as only the second current player to reach the double-century of appearances for the side.
Lining up alongside Jackson in the backs were Stuart Olding at full-back, Gilroy and Jacob Stockdale on the wings, Darren Cave and Marshall – released from international duty – in the centre, and Paul Marshall at scrum half.
Andrew Warwick and Ricky Lutton propped either side of Andrew in a new-look front row, with the now-established partnership of Alan O’Connor and Franco van der Merwe in the second row, while Wilson was joined at the back of the scrum by Robbie Diack and Chris Henry, making his first start since sustaining a shoulder injury in December.
An early four-versus-one overlap out wide on the Scarlets’ left, following a missed tackle from Cave, gave Collins the most elementary of tries on four minutes which went unconverted.
An intentional knock-on from the visitors gifted Ulster a close range lineout which promised much but delivered nothing, as number 9 Marshall fumbled forward as he fished out of the back of the maul.
Another missed tackle in the wide channel – this time from Olding – gave the Scarlets licence to roam in the Ulster 22 where an eventual infringement in front of the posts saw out-half Aled Thomas fire over the penalty for an eight-point lead on 15 minutes.
A drop-goal from Jackson with an Ulster penalty imminent reduced the arrears immediately, and with the hosts now seemingly roused from their Sunday afternoon siesta, the next Scarlets attack was efficiently snuffed out in double-quick time before Gilroy brilliantly collected his own kick over the top to run in yet another fine individual try, converted by Jackson.
However, the see-saw rhythm of the match continued. With 24 minutes on the clock, New Zealander Collins again capitalised on some patchy Ulster defending – a feature of what was a passive and disappointing performance from the hosts overall – to ground by the flag in a carbon copy of his first score. Thomas this time landed conversion.
Ulster contrived to waste a fortuitous lineout steal on the half hour, lacking penetration as forward after forward attempted in vain to pile over from five metres until the Scarlets wrestled back possession.
It was left to the backs to show them the way as a trademark dart from Paul Marshall created the space for his namesake Luke to weave his way towards the right corner, the centre displaying superb upper body strength to fend off two tacklers as he stooped to ground the ball.
Jackson added the conversion, and Ulster had some good fortune late on as Thomas struck a simple penalty against the upright just on the stroke of half-time, leaving Les Kiss’ men with a slender 17-15 lead.
The Scarlets stormed into the second period in voracious mood, pounding the Ulster line straight from the off and eventually earning the penalty which Thomas dispatched on 46 minutes to put them back in front.
Worse still for Ulster saw Henry sin-binned three minutes later for illegal handling and Thomas extend the gap to six points, but the home side did well to retain the ball for virtually the entirety of their flanker’s exile.
When Henry returned to the pitch on the hour mark along with multiple replacements including Ruan Pienaar, Ulster points were not long in coming – Jackson slotting home a 63rd minute penalty.
A single point adrift, Pienaar kicked a subsequent penalty to touch, but despite setting up camp in the Scarlets 22 for a good 10 minutes, the Ulster breakthrough refused to come and the well-organised Welsh cleared their lines on 73 minutes.
Deep in their own 22 with four minutes left to play was not where Ulster wanted to be, and it was game over when referee Ian Davies awarded a penalty to allow the Scarlets to play ‘keep ball’ in the corner.
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