Heineken Cup: Llanelli 21 - 15 Ulster
Heineken Cup: Llanelli 21 - 15 Ulster
Ulster disappointed in Wales but claim crucial bonus point
Llanelli had Ulster under pressure and on the back foot for most of the first half of this much anticipated Pool 5 Heineken Cup match at Stradey Park and were rewarded after just 3 minutes of play when Paul Steinmetz's chip kick out of defence was blocked by Llanelli centre Regan King who chased the ball to the whitewash to score an early try in the top right hand corner of the pitch.
Llanelli 5 - 0 Ulster
Stephen Jones was unable to convert but Llanelli continued to pressure the Ulster defence and but for an excellent Paddy Wallace tackle right on the try-line, could have had another score on the board when Mark Jones slid over. Referee Tony Spreadbury went to the video ref and the replay clearly showed that once tackled by Wallace, Jones lost control of the ball over the line, no try.
It was 18 minutes before Ulster made their first foray into Llanelli's 22 but were unrewarded and lost full-back Bryn Cunningham to injury in the process, (replaced by Scott Young) and Stephen Jones extended Llanelli's lead on 27 minutes when Ulster's Neil Best was penalised for elbowing a Llanelli attacker out of the way after Isaac Boss recovered the ball 5 metres from the try-line.
Llanelli 8 - 0 Ulster.
Ulster finally opened their scoring account on the 32 minute mark when Llanelli were penalised for obstruction, David Humphreys lining the kick up from just outside the 22 and successfully slotting it over. Several minutes later however, referee Spreadbury went again to the video referee, Isaac Boss just beating Scarlets' Barry Davies to the ball and denying the home side a second try.
Humphreys brought his side back to within two points of the Scarlets on the 36 minute mark with a successful penalty kick from near the half-way line. With a series of Llanelli five metre scrums and the Ulster pack under pressure, Simon Best, making just his second appearance since breaking his leg at Stradey Park in the penultimate game of last season, replaced Justin Fitzpatrick with Bryan Young switching to the loose-head side. The scrum held up, but another Ulster infringement six minutes into first-half injury time gave Stephen Jones the opportunity to add another 3 points sending the Scarlets into the break eight points ahead.
HALF-TIME SCORE: Llanelli 11 - 6 Ulster
Despite a difficult first half Ulster still had it all to play for in the match and David Humphreys was first on the scoreboard in the second half, with another successful penalty effort, his third of the evening on 47 minutes. However, Llanelli responded with their second try, scored by winger Mark Jones and converted by Stephen Jones.
Llanelli 18 - 9 Ulster.
Ulster began to turn the game around and Humphreys clawed back 6 points with two penalty kicks on 59 and 64 minutes making his tally it 5 from 5. It looked like Stephen Jones was going to respond in kind 3 minutes later when Ulster were penalised for pulling down the line-out, but the ball bounced off the near upright. However he made no mistake with his 70 minute effort and extended the Scarlet's lead .
Llanelli 21 - 15 Ulster
Scarlets lost prop Craig Dublea to the sin bin when he was yellow carded for an early tackle and had to cling on for the victory - having weathered the storm Ulster looked as though they could possibly sneak a win in the dying minutes of the game, however right on the try line the ball went loose allowing Lanelli to clear for the win.
FINAL SCORE: Llanelli 21 - 15 Ulster
