Ulster made it four wins out of four in the GUINNESS PRO12 to go top of the table in a breathless game against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium.
The 22-17 win was Ulster’s first ever league success at Scotstoun in six attempts and Ireland out-half Paddy Jackson’s converted try on 62 minutes sealed the result for Les Kiss’ side.
Ulster were on the front foot from the kick-off, Glasgow tried to move the ball out of their own 22 but Jonny Gray knocked on. From the scrum Stuart McCloskey and Andrew Warwick carried close to the line before the home side strayed offside but Jackson missed the penalty.
Jackson made amends on six minutes with a long range penalty, punishing the Warriors for infringing at the breakdown, before returning full-back Jared Payne had a try disallowed just three late.
Ulster moved the ball through the hands before big centre McCloskey carried deep in Glasgow territory. The ball was move inside for Rodney Ah You to smash up the middle before Payne came in on a great angle to finish under the posts. However, the score was ruled out as Iain Henderson illegally tackled winger Tommy Seymour earlier in the move and the flanker was sin-binned.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, the Ulstermen managed to score the game’s first try on 15 minutes. From a scrum Charles Piutau showed great footwork to break free along the left touchline. The ball was then moved infield, Stuart Olding, Alan O’Connor and Ah You transferring it across to Payne who fed Sean Reidy and the Ireland flanker provided the scoring pass for centre Darren Cave who finished smartly in the right corner. Jackson failed to convert.
Glasgow’s response was immediate. They kicked a penalty to the corner, from the lineout the forwards drove on before man-of-the-match Finn Russell was stopped close to the line. The ball was recycled and loosehead prop Gordon Reid crashed over from close range with Russell converting.
Ulster’s misfortune continued on 31 minutes as skipper Rob Herring had a try chalked off. Having sent a penalty towards the corner, O’Connor claimed the lineout and set up the driving maul. The ball was moved to the back before Herring broke off and went over aided by Ah You and Henderson, yet referee Ian Davies disallowed the score as he ruled the tighthead had stopped Glasgow scrum half Henry Pyrgos from making a tackle.
Ulster profited for a refereeing decision just a few minutes before half-time. Following a strong run from Warwick, the ball was moved wide Piutau showed his pace to accelerate for the corner. Glasgow winger Leonardo Sarto chopped the All Black down with a no-arms tackle and was sin-binned, while Davies awarded a penalty try and Jackson knocked over the simple conversion to give the visitors a 15-7 interval lead.
Russell got the first points of the second half with a 47th minute penalty after number 8 Roger Wilson was caught offside, and former Ulster winger Seymour got over for the hosts’ second try on the hour mark.
Rory Hughes and Alex Dunbar advanced Glasgow in Ulster’s 22 with strong running, the ball was quickly recycled and moved wide with Stuart Hogg providing the assist for Seymour to finish in the right corner and Russell converted expertly from the touchline.
Glasgow’s 17-15 lead only last four minutes, though, as Ulster replied with a Jackson try, making up for a prior near miss which came at the end of a lung-bursting solo run.
For the province’s match-winning score, Louis Ludik made a fine line break on the right, popping the ball inside to Ruan Pienaar who offloaded to Cave. The centre delayed his pass to Jackson so he could race onto it and slid in from 10 metres out, grounding the ball under pressure from Hogg and the rest of the Glasgow chasers.
Jackson’s conversion was the final scoring act of an absorbing encounter between two sides who will certainly challenge for the play-off spots come next year. Ulster are now at the summit, ending the league’s opening month with 17 points – two clear of the Ospreys whom they host at Kingspan Stadium next Saturday.
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