This weekend’s opponents were the more familiar Welsh side, Scarlets. Ulster grabbed a last minute draw against the Llanelli side in the first game of the Guinness PRO12 season in September, but this was going to be a far bigger task, with Scarlets very much still alive in Europe.
Ulster were boosted prematch by the return of Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and Irish international Dan Tuohy; who had been in try scoring form before succumbing to a forearm injury at the end of September. Also returning to the starting line up were Tommy Bowe and Robbie Diack, after they helped Ireland to a clean sweep in the Autumn International series.
The kick off was delayed by a perfectly respected minutes silence in honour of the legendary flyhalf, Jack Kyle. Fittingly, Ulster number 10 Ian Humphreys kicked the game off, with Ulster playing towards the Memorial Stand.
The first 15 minutes seemed to be full of nearly moments and missed chances. The Scarlets were strong in the opening exchanges, stealing the first lineout and catching Pienaar at the back of the ruck as he tried to distribute his first pass since injuring himself playing in the Rugby Championship for South Africa back in August.
Scarlets early pressure was rewarded, as they worked their way up the pitch, being awarded a simple penalty kick for an Ulster infringement at the break down. Welsh flyhalf Rhys Priestland made no mistake as he put his side on the score board.
A lazy Scarlets player at the base of the breakdown stopped Pienaar getting quick ball to release his backline, so the Ulstermen were granted a penalty. Humphreys looked to continue with his strong kicking statistics from last week against Munster, but regrettably having missed his final kick last Friday night, it was from that kick he continued; missing his first attempt this week.
Humpreys didn't fail with his next kick from hand however as he put up a perfect garryowen. A quality chase from Craig Gilroy forced Wales fullback Liam Williams to knock on. Ulster went through the phases and Scarlets were found with hands in the ruck. But again, Ulster missed a chance as Humphreys put his effort from the right side of the posts wide.
Ulster began to get their backline moving as Gilroy ran a great line inside Humphreys, spinning and weaving his way passed three defenders, but this chance was squashed as a supporting player went straight off their feet.
At this point Ulster’s luck started to change, and an over throw by hooker Emyr Phillips was plucked out of the air by Roger Wilson. The ball was recycled and a cheeky dummy kick followed by quick acceleration allowed the fly half to break the line, finding Diack and Rory Best in support. After a knock on Referee Luke Pearce went to the television match official for a high and late hit on Humphreys. Openside flanker James Davies, brother of British & Irish Lions centre Jonathan Davies, was then shown yellow for his transgressions.
After failing with the first lineout, Ulster made no mistake on the 15 minute mark. The ball was put through the hands of the backline, with Humphreys feeding Bowe. The right wing showed his pace down and floated a perfect pass back inside to Cave, who powered his way to the try line, sliding in on the damp surface for the opening try of the game. Humphreys made no mistake with his third attempt from the tee to give Ulster the 7-3 lead.
Scarlets started handing Ulster chances with loose kicking. Cave was on fire at this point, breaking the line to find supporting Pienaar with an offload from the floor. Scarlets centre Scott Williams was in two minds as he tried to tackle and rip the ball from Pienaar, who shrugged his off to slide in more or less under the posts. Humphreys converted, and Ulster were 14-3 up inside the first quarter.
Scarlets had the next decent attacking chance with Rhys Priestland counter attacking an Ulster clearance kick, but Emyr Phillips threw a loose pass, seemingly killing the opportunity. Best showed his strength at the break down winning a turnover for the home side. Ulster could not hold onto the ball at the following ruck allowing Scott Williams to grubber through. Bowe then threw a loose pass which drifted forward along the floor, handing Scarlets an attacking scrum 10 metres out, under the sticks. For all his work creating the pressure, Scott Williams couldn't hold onto three points.
Scarlets discipline was again found wanting. Louis Ludik was able to cleanly claim a high ball, but to the Kingspan crowd’s anger, his opposite number Liam Williams appeared to drive him into the ground head first in the tackle. English referee Luke Pearce agreed, and Williams would spend the next 10 minutes in the sin bin.
Ulster’s forwards couldn’t capitalise on the opportunities leading up to half time, with 2 wayward line outs and Best with an early hook at the scrum. This mistake allowed the Scarlets to kick up field. Ulster dropped the clearance and an offside player played the ball. Priestland wasn’t able to convert his most difficult kick of the evening from 45 meters. The ball drifted right of the posts, and the crowd drifted to the bars for half time.
HALF TIME: Ulster 14-6 Scarlets
Stuart McCloskey replaced Stuart Olding at half time, as the Ulster number 12 took a knock to the head in the opening half.
Neither side really had a try scoring chance for the first 10 minutes of the half, with possession switching either way. A huge clash of heads between Ulster’s two South African forwards, Wiehaan Herbst and Franco van der Merwe, as they both tackled second row Jake Ball, meant they both had to leave the pitch. Alan O’Connor and Declan Fitzpatrick replaced.
Scarlets created try scoring chance as Scott Williams hit a superb line off Priestland, beating Bowe in the process, but the offload was knocked on and the pressure was momentarily off for Ulster. The scrum stood solid as the Kingspan Stadium turf took the pressure.
On 55 minutes, replacement O’Connor, was adjudged to not roll away from the breakdown which allowed Priestland to bring the score within five points.
After Scarlets played the ball illegally on the ground, Pienaar showed his class as he hoofed the ball right into the corner from the centre of the pitch. This gave Ulster with a considerable scoring chance. The lineout was good, but the ball was turned over as Ulster tried to get the maul rolling. Scarlets spotted the overlap, but Tommy Bowe thought quickly rushing in to make a huge hit on Scott Williams, forcing a knock on. 12 meters out, under the posts Ulster had an attacking scrum. The backline was split and Nick Williams and Pienaar choose to go right, finding Bowe who grounded in the corner. The TMO confirmed. The touchline conversion was too difficult for Humphreys on this occasion.
Scarlets briefly looked to hit back but Rory Best continued his world class work on the ground, winning another penalty, and Humphreys cleared the danger. A trademark take in the air by Bowe, meant Ulster could spin the ball mid field to Humphreys who found the space behind the Scarlets line. A big hit from Gilroy and Ludik forced Gareth Owen into touch.
Scarlets started to ring the changes and Ulster were forced to make their own, with Nick Williams limping off and McCloskey leaving the pitch holding his arm. Clive Ross and Michael Allen were the replacements.
Ulster lineout drive was starting to dominate, first winning a penalty, which Pienaar popped right into the corner. Diack was able to take the line out at the tail, and Ulster were only going to do one thing. With the crowd behind them the maul started moving forward and was driven over the line with Best the man to dot down at the back and the match day objective was on course with the bonus point in the bag! Humphreys couldn't convert, but Ulster knew they just had to hold onto the win with 11 minutes left.
Scarlets were not going to give up, and Callum Black was too obvious as he entered the ruck at the side, Scarlets couldn't finish a break by hooker Emyr Phillips, but referee Pearce came back for the advantage. The penalty was kicked to the corner. At the following line out Tuohy disrupted, but it wasn't enough to stop the Scarlets winning possession. Strong Ulster defence around the fringes forced the Welsh side to go wide and lose the ball in the tackle. But it came off an Ulster hand, and they were still under pressure.
Ulster were then forced to play with 14 men as Pienaar was yellow carded for a deliberate knock on. He left the pitch to a warm reception from the crowd.
Scarlets heads were dropping and Ulster were really starting to dominate up front. The home side worked their way out of pressure with a series of scrum and maul penalties, with Paul Marshall on for Diack and Ulster in control. Humphreys booted the ball into the stands to close off a successful night for Ulster at Kingspan Stadium. European hopes still alive.
Man of the Match went to try scorer Cave.
FULL TIME: Ulster 24-9 Scarlets
Ulster Rugby: 15. Louis Ludik; 14. Tommy Bowe, 13. Darren Cave, 12. Stuart Olding, 11. Craig Gilroy; 10. Ian Humphreys, 9. Ruan Pienaar; 1. Callum Black, 2. Rory Best (c), 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 4. Dan Tuohy, 5. Franco Van Der Merwe, 6. Robbie Diack, 7. Roger Wilson, 8. Nick Williams
Replacements: 16. Rob Herring, 17. Andy Warwick, 18. Declan Fitzpatrick, 19. Alan O'Connor, 20. Clive Ross, 21. Paul Marshall, 22. Stuart McCloskey, 23. Michael Allen
Scarlets: 15. Liam Williams; 14. Harry Robinson, 13. Regan King, 12. Scott Williams (c), 11. Michael Tagicakibau; 10. Rhys Priestland, 9. Aled Davies; 1. Rob Evans, 2. Emyr Phillips, 3. Samson Lee, 4. Jake Ball, 5. Johan Snyman, 6. Aaron Shingler, 7. James Davies, 8. Rory Pitman
Replacements: 16. Kirby Myhill, 17. Phil John, 18. Rhodri Jones, 19. George Earle, 20. Lewis Rawlins, 21. Rhodri Williams, 22. Steven Shingler, 23. Gareth Owen