Ulster 30Scarlets 15
Adam McKendry reports from Kingspan Stadium
ULSTER TOOK ANOTHER big step towards the knockout stages of the Heineken Champions Cup with another scintillating performance in a 30-15 bonus point win over the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium.
Billy Burns pulled the strings from fly-half in horrendous conditions in Belfast as the Irish province took the maximum haul with an excellent second-half display that saw them score three of their four tries.
It means that with the two games in January left to go – home to Racing 92 and away to Leicester Tigers – their destiny very much is in their own hands, while their much -improved outings over the last two weeks will have delighted head coach Dan McFarland.
Jacob Stockdale celebrates as he crosses for Ulster this evening. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Playing with the stiff breeze at their backs in the first half, Burns tortured the Scarlets’ back three with persistent up-and-unders that swirled in the Belfast wind.
It didn’t affect John Cooney’s kicking performance from the tee, however, and he gave the Ulstermen the lead in the ninth minute with a sweetly struck penalty from the 10m line.
Will Addison then thought he’d scored when Henry Speight set him over the line, only for referee Luke Pearce to call it back as the Fijian’s pass was forward after he caught a beautiful crossfield kick from Burns.
John Cooney splits the posts for Ulster. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
The former Wallaby winger then passed up a glorious opportunity to score a try himself as Ulster began to pile on the pressure, this time Addison providing the assist as he stabbed a kick through only for Speight to knock on as he dived onto it at the line.
But as the penalties piled up against the Welsh side, the patience ran out from the officials, and when Wyn Jones played the ball on the floor illegally, out came the yellow card.
With the extra man, Ulster finally struck. Speight and Marcell Coetzee provided barnstorming carries off the back of a scrum to take the Irish province under the posts, and from there Iain Henderson was able to muscle his way over with the help of Rory Best and Jordi Murphy.
Wyn Jones leaves the pitch after receiving a yellow card. Source: Morgan Treacy/INPHO
The lead would only be seven at the interval though, Rhys Patchell dinking over a late penalty to take the sides in at 10-3, and shortly after the restart the Welsh side tied it up in incredible circumstances.
After Ulster worked their way up to the five metre line thanks to a crossfield kick from Burns to Jacob Stockdale – the first of many in the second half – Gareth Davies did brilliantly to read a Cooney pass and pick it off.
From there it was a foot race between the scrum half and Addison up the rest of the pitch and, when the Ulster centre won it, Davies kicked ahead for his namesake Jonathan to race onto and dive over for the try.
Perhaps a hammer blow to many, but not to Ulster, who immediately responded in kind two minutes later.
It was Addison the starter, his burst down the wing creating the space after being set away by Speight, Burns the creator with his inch-perfect crossfield kick landing right in the hands of Stockdale, the scorer, who barraged his way over from close range.
Cooney missed the conversion, but he did add a penalty just before the hour to consolidate the hosts’ lead before they made sure the game was put to bed and they had achieved everything on offer.