Ulster (16) 45
Tries: Faloon, Trimble 2, Nagusa, Whitten Cons: Humphreys 4 Pens: Humphreys 4
Scarlets (12) 24
Tries: Davies 2 Cons: S Jones Pens: S Jones 4

Ulster moved top of the Magners League after an impressive five-try bonus point win at Ravenhill.

Willie Faloon's try helped the hosts to a 16-12 lead at the break before they surged clear in the second half.

Andrew Trimble (2) and Tomoci Nagusa went over to secure the bonus point while Jonathan Davies scored the first try for the Welsh visitors.

Ian Humphreys took his tally to 20 points by converting Ian Whitten's try before Davies completed a double.

Ulster should have been further ahead at half-time but their indiscipline kept the Scarlets in the game.

Stephen Jones kicked the visitors ahead after three minutes but Ulster hit back immediately with Faloon's touchdown.

BJ Botha made the crucial break and his pass gave Faloon the easy task of running under the posts for a converted try.

Jones added his second penalty to restore the lead before Rhys Priestland made a superb try-saving tackle on Issac Boss.

Scarlets hooker Ryhs Thomas was sinbinned on 17 minutes for a dangerous tackle but Ulster failed to capitalise.

Humphreys fired over a penalty but two followed from Jones and Thomas was back on the field when the Ulster fly-half made it 13-12.

An injury-time penalty from Humphreys gave Ulster a four-point advantage at the break.

Ulster took control in the second half and a Humphreys penalty was followed by Trimble's excellent try on 49 minutes, with the wing bursting clear before going over.

Humphreys set up the third try 10 minutes later with a pinpoint kick which was collected by Nagusa, and the Fijian sprinted to the line.

Nothing seemed to be running for the Scarlets and a last-ditch tackle by Boss denied Lee Williams a score before a horrible mix-up at the back allowed Trimble to gather a loose ball and run home from over 30 metres for the bonus point try.

Scarlets got a consolation score with 10 minutes remaining from Davies, which was superbly converted by Jones.

The game became disjointed from mass substitutions in the closing stages, which brought tries from Ulster substitute Whitten and an unconverted effort by Davies for the Scarlets, who were beaten for the fourth time in five league outings.

Ulster: C Schifcofske; T Nagusa, D Cave, P Wallace, A Trimble; I Humphreys, I Boss; T Court, N Brady, BJ Botha, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, S Ferris, R Diack, W Faloon.
Replacements: A Kyriacou, D Fitzpatrick, N McComb, T Anderson, P Marshall, I Whitten, M McCrea.

Scarlets: R Priestland; S Lamont, G Maule, J Davies, L Williams; S Jones, M Roberts; I Thomas, M Rees, R Thomas, V Cooper, L Reed, D Jones, J Edwards, D Lyons, capt.
Replacements: P John, K Owens, D Welch, J Turnbull, R Pugh, D Evans, R Higgitt.

Att: 6,000

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version