Replacement scrum half Dave Shanahan scored a late try to give the Ravens a dramatic 27 points to 23 win over the Cornish Pirates in an action packed game at Deramore.
The Pirates arrived in Belfast having won all five games in the pool and had picked up four bonus points to guarantee their place in the quarter-finals, while the Ravens (who are sponsored by CD Group) had a point to prove after last week’s disappointing result at Jersey.
The home side made the prefect start as out half James McKinney opened the scoring with a first minute penalty after the a scrum infringement from the Pirates.
McKinney had a chance to extend the Ravens lead but dragged an eighth minute penalty wide.
The Pirates got the game’s first try on 13 minutes from full back Matt Evans.
From a scrum penalty pivot, Mike Pope took a quick tap, he fed centre Alex Dancer who broke two tackles before putting Evans clear to go over unopposed with outhalf Angus Sinclair converting.
Sinclair increased the Pirates lead with a 31st minute penalty from a scrum and added another three points when the Ravens were again punished at the set-piece.
Allen Clarke’s side got back in the game with the last play of the first half.
Winger Rory Scholes, returning from a long absence, made a break from his own half into the opposition 22, the ball was quickly recycled and the forwards took it through a number of phases before prop Adam Macklin barged over from close range and McKinney converted to cut the Pirates half time lead to 13-10.
The visitors restored their 10 point lead with a try on 51 minutes from flanker Joe Atkinson.
Tom Channon made a break from the base of the scrum and carried the ball deep into the Ravens 22, from quick recycling Atkinson when over and winger Kyle Moore converted.
Ravens centre Stuart McCloskey scored the try of the game on 60 minutes.
(Ken Knox, CEO CD Group, presents the man-of-the-match award to Ulster Ravens' Captain, Lewis Stevenson)
The home side won a penalty at the scrum, Michael Heaney took a quick tap before throwing a long pass to McCloskey on the 22, the Dungannon centre beat four defenders before touching down and McKinney added the conversion.
McKinney missed a penalty but levelled the scores at 20-20 with a successful kick on 72 minutes.
However from the restart the Ravens infringed and Moore restored the English side’s lead.
Scholes started the move that led to the winning try when he made another great break and was stopped short, Neil McComb picked up and drove and he was stopped inches before the line and Shanahan picked up and drove over and McKinney added the conversion.
Ravens: P Nelson, R Scholes, R Andrew, S McCloskey, D Busby, J McKinney, M Heaney, K McCall, N Annett, A Macklin, L Stevenson, N McComb, C Joyce, L Dow, M McComish, Replacements P Jackson for Annett 68 mins, A Warwick for McCall 54 mins, M Cromie for Macklin 77 mins, M Campbell, J Atkinson for Dow 54 mins, D Shanahan for Heaney 70 mins, R Adair for Andrew 64 mins.
Cornish Pirates: M Evans, K Goss, T Riley, A Dancer, K Moyle, A Sinclair, M Pope K Davies, A Carpenter, S Cahill, N Patrick, W Graulich, J Parker, J Atkinson, T Duncan. Replacements: T Channon for Duncan 41 mins, J Andrew for Patrick 48 mins, D Barry, M Bolwell for Carpenter 67 mins, T Kessell for Sinclair 48 mins, T Hendrickson for Dancer 61 mins, M Bodilly for Evans 61 mins