Ulster 24 – 17 Scarlets
A severely understrength Scarlets side travelled to the North of Ireland on Friday night and left with a credible loosing bonus point. The West Walians had been missing eight of their first choice squad to national duty along with deciding to rest key personnel ahead of this weekend’s titanic Heineken cup encounter with Munster.
However that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the young turks with Ulster fielding a near first choice 15. With a huge gust behind the backs of the Scarlets the Welsh men got the first points on the board within the first two minutes. After the visitors kicked off some risky play from the hosts brought the first try of the evening. Deep inside his own 22 former Springbok Pedrie Wannenburg generously awarded Sean Lamont an early Christmas gift with the prominent Scot picking off an interception to stroll over in the corner. Stephen Jones missed the conversion in difficult elements but nonetheless it was a hugely promising start for the Scarlets.
However this early score by the visitors was to prove very much against the run of play with the Ulster pack dominating the Scarlets eight. Gritty Scarlets defence and the inaccuracy of Ulster fly half David Humphries meant Ulster were not rewarded for their dominance of possession and territory. After fifteen minutes the next score occurred. After some neat passing by Stephen Jones and a lovely floated pass from young centre Adam Warren deadly Tongan winger and new signing Villiame Iongi left Craig Gilroy for dead and raced in in the corner. Jones missed the conversion but the visitors had a handy ten point lead.
David Humphries got Ulster on the board with a penalty after twenty one minutes but it was not until just before the interval that the Ulstermen’s forward dominance told. Scarlets full back Daniel Evans was controversially sin-binned for entering the ruck from the side by unpopular Irishman Allain Rolland. The result being that lively Ulster scrum half and official man of the match Paul Marshall made an impressive break down the right hand touchline where prominent British Lion Stephen Ferris eventually crashed over. Humphries missed the conversion and the Scarlets lead 10-8 at the break.
Ulster hit back straight after the re-start with a high tackle on Nevin Spence allowing Humphries to edge Ulster into the lead.
Humphries then added a further penalty to make it 14-10 in the hosts favour. On the hour mark another Scarlets infringement at the ruck saw Humphries extent the Ulster lead even further.
But it was not until the 65th minute that the game became almost out of reach for the Scarlets when after some promising back play from the Ulstermen, Ferris yet again powered his way over after brushing off young Scarlets scrum half Rhodri Williams to score. Humphries added the extras and put Ulster into a commanding 24-10 lead.
However despite being over powered the Scarlets showed an abundance of energy and character and after Ulster prop Malkin was given a ten minute breather for slowing the ball down impressive Scarlets number eight Kieran Murphy barged his way over following a series of dominant scrums from the Scarlets. Jones this time made no mistake with the conversion to bring the Scarlets within range.
What looked like a comfortable win for Ulster was nearly taken away for them with some intense pressure for the Scarlets nearly handing them a draw. However a cross kick by Jones to the dangerous Iongi was slightly off target which handed the victory to the Ulstermen.
A gritty and brave display by the Scarlets was not enough to claim victory in Northern Ireland but a loosing bonus point was a more than credible result and they will feel being back to full strength in the Heineken will bring them more than just a solidary point.