Paddy Jackson scored all 20 Ulster points as Mark Anscombe’s side played catch-up for 65 minutes after Tom Court’s dismissal in a combative encounter which also saw two Leinstermen receive yellow cards. However the bonus point guarantees Ulster their place in the RaboDirect Pro12 play-offs – with a rematch against tonight’s opponents in Dublin a distinct possibility.
As the redeveloped stadium was officially inaugurated, it was a heartbreaking Ravenhill swansong for Court – off to London Irish at the end of the season – and a disappointing one too for captain Johann Muller, due to retire from professional rugby and depart Ulster for his native South Africa. The match was notable also as it marked Brian O’Driscoll’s final appearance in the province before his own retirement.
Ian Madigan kicked the visitors into an early lead courtesy of sixth- and 10th-minute penalties from just inside the Ulster 10-metre line, but missed with a third effort from distance on 14 minutes. Then, as Ulster struggled to get a foothold in the game, referee Luke Pearce dismayed Ravenhill as he produced a red card for Court on TMO advice after an adjudged spear tackle from the prop on Zane Kirchner.
Nick Williams made way for Callum Black with Anscombe forced to re-populate his front row, and more controversy was soon to follow, as Jackson, superbly charging down a Madigan clearance, raced for the line to ground the try despite Rob Kearney’s lunging tackle around his neck. Mr Pearce’s popularity in South Belfast plumbed new depths as he showed the full-back yellow rather than red, and Jackson was unlucky to see his conversion just miss the posts.
Rhys Ruddock then joined Kearney in the sinbin on 26 minutes for a dangerous tackle on the ubiquitous Jackson, and Ulster, clearly invigorated by the high drama which was unfolding, put together several high-octane raids before Jackson’s 33rd-minute penalty nudged them into the lead.
Madigan turned the tables 90 seconds later with a penalty of his own, and with Leinster back to full strength minutes before the interval, Ulster did well to keep the deficit to a single point, with Luke Marshall in particular defending his lines as if his life depended on it.
Half-Time Score Ulster 8 Leinster 9
The second period opened with two errant Madigan penalties from either side of the Ulster 10-metre line, and as a third penalty went to touch, only dogged defending from the returning Jared Payne and Andrew Trimble kept Dave Kearney out by the left-hand corner flag after minutes of good Leinster recycling metres from the line.
Madigan eventually topped up the Leinster score to 12 on 53 minutes, but Ulster, with Darren Cave now among the ranks in place of Marshall, kept in touch thanks to Jackson’s boot four minutes later. Then came the Leinster breakthrough just shy of the hour mark, Shane Jennings capitalising on an aerial knock-on from Tommy Bowe to exploit a somewhat threadbare-looking Ulster defence on the ‘22’ for the try, converted by Madigan.
Muller made his final Ravenhill exit to heartfelt applause on 65 minutes, replaced by Dan Tuohy, as Jackson slotted over a central penalty to bring his side within a converted try of the victory. However replacement out-half Jimmy Gopperth, a recent entrant in lieu of Madigan, soon added his side’s fifth penalty after another Ulster infringement in the scrum.
A failed Jackson drop-goal and successful penalty followed in quick succession, and as Ulster bombarded the opposition ‘22’ with five minutes left to play, a further infringement directly in front of the posts saw Jackson split the uprights to set up the potential for a grandstand finish. Pragmatic Leinster had other ideas, however, retaining the ball well on half-way until the clock hit 80 minutes.
With one round now left to play, Ulster sit in fourth place on 66 points, five ahead of the Ospreys in fifth, and just out of reach of the Welsh outfit. With Leinster, Glasgow and Munster still contesting the top spot, Ulster may well have the chance to claim revenge on the Dubliners in two weeks’ time.
Full-Time Score Ulster 20 Leinster 22
Ulster (15 – 9) R Andrew; A Trimble, J Payne, L Marshall, T Bowe; P Jackson, P Marshall (1 – 8) T Court, R Herring, A Warwick, J Muller (c), I Henderson, R Wilson, C Henry, N Williams
Replacements (16 – 23) N Annett, C Black, A Macklin, D Tuohy, S Doyle, M Heaney, J McKinney, D Cave.
Leinster (15 – 9) R Kearney; Z Kirchner, B O'Driscoll, G D'Arcy, D Kearney; I Madigan, I Boss (1 – 8) C Healy, S Cronin, M Moore, D Toner, M McCarthy, R Ruddock, S Jennings, J Heaslip (c)
Replacements (16 – 23) R Strauss, J McGrath, M Ross, L Cullen, J Murphy, L McGrath, J Gopperth, B Macken.