Centre Jacob Stockdale’s late try earned the Ulster Ravens a losing bonus point but they suffered a second consecutive defeat, going down 22-17 against Yorkshire Carnegie at Kingspan Stadium.
The Ulster Ravens, sponsored by CD Group started brightly and following a good drive from Conor Joyce the home side were awarded a penalty and Peter Nelson slotted it over on four minutes.
Yorkshire Carnegie got the game’s opening try on 10 minutes, they won a penalty and elected to kick it to the corner, from the lineout they executed a perfected catch and drive allowing lock Harry Casson to rumble over from close range but David McIlwaine struck the upright with the conversion.
The Ravens should have had a try when Ricky Andrew made a line break, he had Nelson outside but the full back went himself and was held up over the line.
The Ravens wasted another chance when scrum half John Creighton knocked on when he tried to ground the ball.
Nelson restored the Ravens lead with his second penalty on 28 minutes after the visitors were caught offside in front of their own posts.
The Ravens suffered a huge blow when centre Luke Marshall had to limp out of the game with a knee injury on 30 minutes.
Yorkshire Carnegie got their second try on 36 minutes, winger Taylor Prell made a line break and evaded some poor tackling before offloading inside for Daniel Tai to touch down and McIlwaine converted.
Nelson added his third penalty on 38 minutes after the English side were punished for wheeling the scrum.
Ravens outhalf Josh Bingham sent the sides in level at 12-12 with a drop goal with the last kick of the first half .
The Ravens squandered a great opportunity from the second half kick off, lock James Simpson won the ball and made good yardage but with an open try line Charlie Butterworth dropped the pass.
The visitors regained the lead with Tai’s second try of the game on 55 minutes.
Yorkshire Carnegie moved the ball wide and it looked as if the Ravens defence had dealt with the danger but Tai managed to roll over and McIlwaine converted from a tight angle.
McIlwaine extended the English Championship side’s lead with a penalty before the Ravens got their only try.
From a quick tap penalty under the visitor's posts Connor Young spun the ball wide and it was moved through hands of Sean O’Hagan and Jack Owens who provided the scoring pass to Jacob Stockdale but O’Hagan was off target with the conversion.
The Ulster Ravens Man of the match, sponsored by CD Group was awarded to Number 8, Charlie Butterworth.
Pictured: Man of the match Charlie Butterworth with John Cordner, CD Group Finance Director.
Teams
Ravens
R Andrew, J Owens, J Stockdale, L Marshall, P Nelson, J Bingham, J Creighton
D Ryan, P Jackson, B Ross, N McComb (capt) J Simpson, S Reidy, C Joyce, C Butterworth
Reps R Lutton, J Andrew, J Donnan, F Taggart, C Young, S O’Hagan, R Adair
Yorkshire Carnegie
C Georgiou, T Prell, R Vickerman, J Clarke, D Tai, D McIlwaine, M Dudman
C Beech, J Walker, B Hooper, N Hannay, H Casson, J Barnard, C Walker (capt) J Williams
Reps O Hayes, L Boyce, P Hill, D Preston-Routledge, C Raymond, S Allan, O Goss