There was nothing to separate Ulster and the Scarlets in Llanelli as a pulsating GUINNESS PRO12 clash ended with honours even, the province clawing back 14 points in as many minutes to secure a deserved 32-32 draw.
Tries from new recruits Franco van der Merwe and Louis Ludik added to one apiece from stalwarts Dan Tuohy and Andrew Trimble, but it was the power of returning centre Stuart Olding and explosive replacement Nick Williams – as well as fine kicking and game management from Ian Humphreys – which really caught the eye.
Indeed, Ulster could well have had five tries on the scoresheet in this round 1 fixture had Ludik’s first half effort not been ruled out for obstruction after long deliberation by the match officials.
Scarlets centre Scott Williams was unlucky in the second minute as a bouncing ball just eluded him 10 metres from the posts, but a quick overlap seconds later released Harry Robinson on the right wing for a debut try in the corner, converted by Rhys Priestland.
Ulster fought hard to strike straight back, with a good carry from Humphreys setting Craig Gilroy loose in the 22 until he was brought to ground, and the move eventually broke down with accidental crossing between Tuohy and Michael Allen.
Multiple phases for Ulster paid off on nine minutes, with Paul Marshall first supplying Ludik in the centre and then van der Merwe on the left wing, with the Springbok displaying the requisite upper body strength to force his way over the line under two bulky Scarlets tackles.
Humphreys added the extras from an acute angle, although parity was short-lived as Priestland clipped over a penalty a minute later.
Olding announced his return to competitive rugby after a 10-month ACL injury exile with an energetic burst through the centre before a desperate tap tackle from Gareth Davies floored him inside the Scarlets 22. Ulster recycled quickly, however, as Humphreys picked out van der Merwe’s second-row partner Tuohy (pictured below) to charge home, again resisting a tandem of tackles for the try.
Humphreys’ conversion thumped off the upright, but there was no time for either side to draw breath as the Scarlets exposed a gap in the Ulster rearguard to put together a good five minutes’ pressure deep in the visitors’ half.
Ulster defended manfully until a pinpoint pass from Regan King put number 8 Rory Pitman in for the try on 25 minutes, converted once more by Priestland.
A second Ulster debutant thought he had bagged a try just before the half hour, as Ludik capitalised on a superb jinking run from Olding and snappy pass from captain Roger Wilson to slide over the whitewash, only for the TMO to rule that prospective tackler Priestland had been obstructed by Allen at the moment of Wilson’s pass.
A long range penalty from Humphreys soon brought Ulster to within two points, and just as the game’s pace seemed to have finally slowed down from frenetic to orthodox, a misplaced pass from Marshall on halfway teed up a breakaway try for his prolific opposite number Davies which Priestland converted.
An intentional block from Tuohy on Scott Williams as he chased his own grubber kick early in the second period saw the lock yellow carded and Priestland presented with a simple penalty in front of the posts to establish a 12-point lead – 27-15.
Liam Williams soon joined Tuohy in the sin-bin, however, as he deliberately knocked on Allen’s pass as Ulster pressed deep in the red zone. Humphreys split the posts for three points.
With Luke Marshall replacing a limping Jared Payne just before Trimble and Williams also entered the fray, the Scarlets seemed content to soak up Ulster pressure until stolen lineout ball and a sublime aerial take from Liam Williams got them 10 metres from try number four, where replacement back Gareth Owen was unfortunate to knock on.
Undeterred, the Welsh outfit duly secured their bonus point on 64 minutes courtesy of a strong dash from full-back Williams, followed by an acrobatic one-handed offload on the line from Pitman for Davies’ second score of the afternoon.
Priestland missed the conversion and Ulster responded in style as Ludik (pictured below) latched onto Humphreys’ 67th-minute pass and dashed through a chasm in the Scarlets’ defence to ensure his name figured on the scoresheet after all.
The Ulster out-half followed his assist with a conversion, and with 10 minutes remaining the Les Kiss-coached visitors poured forward again with real belief that the result was still not beyond them.
Both Gilroy and Williams came desperately close to snatching a fourth Ulster try, the winger careering into the upright under the weight of three Scarlets tacklers, and the 18-stone back rower reaching the line seconds later only to be held up.
Indefatigable Ulster pressed again and again as the clock wound into its final five minutes, and an obstruction from Liam Williams on Paul Marshall saw the full-back receive his second yellow card of the game – and an automatic red – on 78 minutes.
Ulster worked the scrum well, Trimble picking up on the right wing and grounding as close to the posts as possible to give Humphreys his best chance of converting the score.
The out-half held his nerve to level the tie and finish off an impressive competitive return to Ulster with 12 points to his name.
It made for a breathless finish, but these sides will have three more chances to establish superiority this season including back-to-back European Rugby Champions Cup clashes in December.
This website uses cookies.
Read More