A well drilled Ulster A side (sponsored by CD Group) defeated a young Scarlets Select XV by 27 points to 19 today at Parc y Scarlets...
In the opening minutes of the game, Ulster burst into the opposition 22 and were awarded a penalty which Sam Windsor knocked over for the game's first points.
0-3
Ulster then showed some solid defence to prevent the Scarlets taking advantage of their position following a penalty kick to the corner and were soon in a similar position themselves in Scarlets' 22m. The maul formed 15m out and they powered all the way over the try line to score their first try of the day.
0-8
Dan Jones earned his side a penalty taking the ball in from deep and drilling the ball deep into Ulster territory. The following maul was unsuccessful in breaching the defence, but a few phases later, the ball hit Josh Lewis who's steamed up the centre. He blasted through the would-be tacklers and scored underneath the posts. Dan Jones added the simple conversion and narrowed the gap to one point.
7-8
Ulster responded in kind with a powerful surge up the field, pinning the Scarlets XV on their own line. It took hooker John Andrew to finally get over the line however and Windsor added the conversion.
7-15
Gavin Thomas' eyes lit up as he tried to intercept a pass but the ball is knocked on and the referee deems the act to be foul play, showing the winger a yellow card. Scarlets were down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes.
Despite Ulster hurling everything into the midfield, the centre partnership of Lewis and Hughes held firm with some thumping tackles. The Scarlets did well to deny Ulster any points as winger Gavin Thomas returned to the field, his time in the bin spent.
The Scarlets seemed comfortable in defence by the end of the first half and kept the Ulstermen out of their 22m for the entirety of Thomas' yellow card and the rest of the half. Both teams retire to their changing rooms with the score still 7-15 in favour of the visitors.
As the Scarlets execute their exit strategy, the ball is spilled forward and Ulster pounce on it and scramble over the try line to steal a quick try for Murphy. The conversion is missed but Ulster begin to pull away from the home side, extending their lead by 13 points.
7-20
Jones then put in a neat little kick along the ground to give Dion Jones a chase along the left wing. His opposite number beat him to the ball but gets clattered into touch by the winger, who was steaming up on his flank. From the resulting lineout, Ben Leung from the front row got his hands on the ball and burrows over the line! Dan Jones pushes the conversion wide, but the gap is narrowed.
12-20
Ulster attack the Scarlets line again, sending wave after wave of forwards into the yellow defence. Eventually, with some support from fellow forwards, Murphy found his way over the line for his second try of the afternoon. Windsor compliments the try with a two point conversion.
12-27
Dan Jones got the ball wide to Steff Hughes who quickly flicked the ball on as Ulster rush up. It rolled along the floor but Dion Jones waited patiently for it to reach his hands before accelerating down the wing. There's no stopping the winger from that distance and Jones crossed the line for a try. Dan Jones is accurate this time and slots the conversion to add the extras; but his kick is the last event of the game as the referee blows his whistle for full time.
Final Score: Scarlets Select XV 19-27 Ulster A
In the opening minutes of the game, Ulster burst into the opposition 22 and were awarded a penalty which Sam Windsor knocked over for the game's first points.
0-3
Ulster then showed some solid defence to prevent the Scarlets taking advantage of their position following a penalty kick to the corner and were soon in a similar position themselves in Scarlets' 22m. The maul formed 15m out and they powered all the way over the try line to score their first try of the day.
0-8
Dan Jones earned his side a penalty taking the ball in from deep and drilling the ball deep into Ulster territory. The following maul was unsuccessful in breaching the defence, but a few phases later, the ball hit Josh Lewis who's steamed up the centre. He blasted through the would-be tacklers and scored underneath the posts. Dan Jones added the simple conversion and narrowed the gap to one point.
7-8
Ulster responded in kind with a powerful surge up the field, pinning the Scarlets XV on their own line. It took hooker John Andrew to finally get over the line however and Windsor added the conversion.
7-15
Gavin Thomas' eyes lit up as he tried to intercept a pass but the ball is knocked on and the referee deems the act to be foul play, showing the winger a yellow card. Scarlets were down to 14 men for the next 10 minutes.
Despite Ulster hurling everything into the midfield, the centre partnership of Lewis and Hughes held firm with some thumping tackles. The Scarlets did well to deny Ulster any points as winger Gavin Thomas returned to the field, his time in the bin spent.
The Scarlets seemed comfortable in defence by the end of the first half and kept the Ulstermen out of their 22m for the entirety of Thomas' yellow card and the rest of the half. Both teams retire to their changing rooms with the score still 7-15 in favour of the visitors.
As the Scarlets execute their exit strategy, the ball is spilled forward and Ulster pounce on it and scramble over the try line to steal a quick try for Murphy. The conversion is missed but Ulster begin to pull away from the home side, extending their lead by 13 points.
7-20
Jones then put in a neat little kick along the ground to give Dion Jones a chase along the left wing. His opposite number beat him to the ball but gets clattered into touch by the winger, who was steaming up on his flank. From the resulting lineout, Ben Leung from the front row got his hands on the ball and burrows over the line! Dan Jones pushes the conversion wide, but the gap is narrowed.
12-20
Ulster attack the Scarlets line again, sending wave after wave of forwards into the yellow defence. Eventually, with some support from fellow forwards, Murphy found his way over the line for his second try of the afternoon. Windsor compliments the try with a two point conversion.
12-27
Dan Jones got the ball wide to Steff Hughes who quickly flicked the ball on as Ulster rush up. It rolled along the floor but Dion Jones waited patiently for it to reach his hands before accelerating down the wing. There's no stopping the winger from that distance and Jones crossed the line for a try. Dan Jones is accurate this time and slots the conversion to add the extras; but his kick is the last event of the game as the referee blows his whistle for full time.
Final Score: Scarlets Select XV 19-27 Ulster A