Ulster Stung By Scarlets Defeat

Ulster fell to their third defeat in four European Champions Cup matches as the Scarlets leapfrogged over Neil Doak’s side in Pool 3 with a deserved 22-13 home victory tonight.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: SCARLETS 22 ULSTER 13

Although they sparked a second half revival, the Ulstermen collectively turned in a below-par performance which now leaves them bottom of the pool on six points. Reigning champions Toulon lead the way on 13 and the Scarlets and Leicester Tigers have eight each.

Qualification for the knockout stages is still a mathematical possibility for the province, but it would require bonus point victories away to Toulon and at home to Leicester to keep them in the hunt for a last-eight spot.

Three personnel changes to the team that dispatched the Scarlets 24-9 in last week’s home fixture saw the fit-again Luke Marshall return to action at inside centre, while hamstring problems for both Wiehahn Herbst and Nick Williams gave Declan Fitzpatrick and Clive Ross starts at tighthead and openside respectively.

After a cautious opening from both sides at Parc y Scarlets, a strong drive on eight minutes got Ulster inside the Welsh 22 in a move which promised much until a misunderstanding between Louis Ludik and Ian Humphreys saw the former pulled up for crossing.

Then, with Franco van der Merwe penalised for not releasing in the tackle as the Scarlets pressed in their turn, Rhys Priestland kicked the first points on 11 minutes.

Three more points followed from the out-half, eight minutes later, as the hosts began to stamp their authority on the game, with handling errors soon blighting any possession Ulster were able to claim.

Progressive running from the Scarlets just before the half hour mark won Priestland a third penalty as van der Merwe infringed once more, and the visitors fell 9-0 behind.

Travelling in the tackle from Rory Best, following good initial work in the form of a sharp interception from the Ulster skipper, saw Priestland’s fourth goal sail over seven minutes from half-time.

There was still time left in the half for the Welsh number 10 to hit two further strikes at goal, the first spinning well wide from 50 metres, and the second falling just short of the crossbar from a similar distance.

Twelve points adrift, Ulster made immediate improvements for the second period. In-form centre Darren Cave (pictured below) caught the Scarlets cold just 90 seconds in, trading passes in a neat one-two with Luke Marshall to slide in under the posts upposed. Humphreys converted for a 12-7 scoreline.

With the wind now in Ulster’s sails, Priestland missed his third consecutive penalty attempt before a late tackle on Humphreys and a searching kick to touch from Pienaar got Ulster a lineout five metres from home.

However, obstruction from Ross at the ensuing maul stopped the move short of the line, and Ulster had to settle for a kick at goal, moments later, which Humphreys screwed just wide.

Priestland made no such mistake on the hour mark as he swept a sweet penalty in off the upright from wide out on the left, before Fitzpatrick’s fourth infringement of the night – this time a collapsed scrum – saw the prop sent to the sin-bin to complicate Ulster’s task even further.

Undaunted by their numerical disadvantage, Ulster threatened again on 67 minutes, Tommy Bowe running an incisive diagonal line and only just failing to supply Cave with the try-sealing pass deep inside the 22.

There was barely time to draw breath, however, as Pienaar landed penalties after 69 and 72 minutes – the second an incredible effort from all of halfway.

Sensing the result was there for the taking, Ulster forced a further penalty three minutes later with a muscular drive down the left flank, but Pienaar’s effort from the kicking tee spun agonisingly wide of the right hand post.

Then, with a mere two minutes remaining, miscommunication between number 8 Roger Wilson and Pienaar at the base of a hurried scrum presented James Davies with the ball and a clear 20-metre run to the line. His match-winning try was converted by Priestland to deny Ulster the consolation of a losing bonus point.

Giving his reaction afterwards, Ulster head coach Neil Doak said: “It’s going to be difficult to get out of the group. We have just got to see how the next two games go. Obviously Toulon away is no easy ask and we will have to play particularly well to get something out of that.

“The boys have dug in well and hopefully with the injuries we have got we’ll get a few bodies back in January. Hopefully that will be the catalyst to finish this phase off before the Six Nations.”

He added: “We started the second half very well and got a try and nearly got another. First half was poor from our point of view with regards to discipline – 11 penalties to three. We talked about it especially in the conditions.

“Credit to the guys that they got back in the game – some good decisions by Luke Marshall and Darren Cave. It’s just unfortunate we couldn’t get that second try that would have taken us into the lead.

“These top European games are always nip and tuck especially in the conditions. So you have to get those chances and we just didn’t deliver on the night.”