Despite an encouraging first half display in Llanelli this evening, Ulster were edged out late by the Scarlets who consolidated their top four spot in the GUINNESS PRO12 thanks to a gritty 16-13 win.
The Welsh outfit sit fourth on 40 points while the Ulstermen’s losing bonus point sees them remain in sixth place on 33 points, ahead of tomorrow’s PRO12 matches.
A Jacob Stockdale try and eight points from Paddy Jackson’s boot had Ulster in the driving seat at a rain-hit Parc y Scarlets until the 60-minute mark when a contentious penalty try swung the advantage in the hosts’ favour.
Notable also in the match was the impact of World Rugby’s new directives for the punishment of high tackles, which saw a player from each team yellow carded for making contact above the shoulders – in the case of Ulster, Sean Reidy in the penalty try incident which effectively decided the game.
Ulster’s cause had been bolstered by the return of the four Ireland internationals who had been rested under the terms of the IRFU player management scheme for last weekend’s disappointing derby defeat to Leinster.
Hooker Rory Best, lock Iain Henderson, out-half Jackson and centre Luke Marshall all came straight back into the starting line-up, but a litany of injuries sustained in the New Year’s Eve fixture meant five further changes to the team.
In the backline, Louis Ludik came in at full-back for Charles Piutau while Stockdale replaced Tommy Bowe on the wing, the Monaghan man moving to the bench. Paul Marshall deputised for the injured Ruan Pienaar at scum half, and winger and captain Andrew Trimble and centre Stuart McCloskey retained their places from the game at the RDS.
Multiple changes up front brought in a new prop pairing of Callum Black and Ross Kane either side of Best, while Kieran Treadwell continued at lock alongside Henderson. Finally, an injury to Roger Wilson saw Reidy shift to number 8, with Chris Henry coming in at openside and Clive Ross retaining the number 6 shirt.
There was plenty to praise about Ulster’s first half efforts, with well-organised defence, good discipline, careful handling in difficult conditions and efficient use of the few chances that came their way.
Under heavy rain, Jackson did well to atone for an early charge-down of his kick from Dan Jones by catching up with his opposite number as he raced after the ball and doing just enough to ensure there was no touchdown as the two slid for the line.
Jones got his name on the scoresheet after 10 and 14 minutes courtesy of two successful penalties, Jackson clawing back three points straight away with a well-struck kick from 45 metres after a high tackle on Ludik. Then a rolling maul on the Scarlets’ 22 paid dividends as quick thinking from Paul Marshall allowed McCloskey to bludgeon through the Welsh defence line, Stockdale timing his support run to perfection as he claimed his third try of the season.
Jackson’s conversion led to a good 10 minutes of Scarlets pressure, which Ulster defended manfully until an eventual knock-on allowed Stockdale to clear his lines.
Then good pressing high up the park from Ulster won a lineout on the Scarlets’ 10-metre line which allowed the visitors to close out the first half going through phases until the award of a penalty in the dying seconds saw Jackson extend the score to a converted try – 13-6.
More of the same from Ulster after the break kept the Scarlets pinned back in their own half for 10 minutes until Best was pulled up by referee Marius Mitrea for not releasing in the tackle, and as the Scarlets jolted into life, an offside from Kane gave Jones his third successful penalty of the contest on 53 minutes.
Changes at prop and scrum half brought in Andrew Warwick, Jonny Simpson and Dave Shanahan just before the hour mark, but the Scarlets’ recovery continued and when Aled Davies peeled off the back of a rolling maul, a tackle around the neck from Reidy as the replacement scrum half dived for the line resulted – harshly perhaps – in the penalty try and a stay in the sin-bin for the Ireland-capped back rower.
Jake Ball soon joined Reidy off the pitch for a similar challenge on Ross – again a disputable decision – and with parity of numbers restored, Ulster wasted little time in pushing on to reclaim their lead, Jackson coming closest with a diagonal break on 67 minutes.
However, the breakthrough would not come for Les Kiss’ side and, with both teams back to their full complement, the Scarlets held onto the ball – and their lead – for a fine comeback victory.
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