The hosts started well, opening up a 6-0 lead courtesy of two penalties from Methodist College outhalf Gareth Millar. But Leinster notched the first try of the game when impressive number 8 Max Deegan broke a few tackles to touch down under the posts for Alan Hughes to convert. They got a second shortly after when a loose Ulster kick was punished by a slick counter attacking move that sent Matthew Byrne over in the corner.
Millar was off the mark with his third penalty attempt in the 16th minute before Leinster added a third try. A blindside scrum attack involving Deegan, Nick Peters and Byrne resulted in Hughes running in unopposed. The same player converted to extend the lead to 6-19 after 20 minutes.
Ulster responded to keep in touch thanks to a try from back row Conall Boomer. After he won the initial lineout on the opposition 22, scrumhalf Christopher Gibson sniped to within two metres, allowing Boomer to crash over from short range. Millar converted to bring his side to within 6 points.
But just as it looked as if the home side might push on, Leinster landed a sucker punch on the stroke of half time with Con Callan’s converted try.
Half time: Ulster 13 Leinster 26
Leinster struck again just after the interval with an opportunist score. With Ulster on the attack, a spilled ball was hacked through twice by Byrne and he collected to score under the posts. Hughes added the extras and did the same for Will Connors’ effort to bring them up to the 40 point mark.
Ulster looked for a late reply but despite some clever offloads from inside centre Kieran Joyce, they were unable to find the breakthrough.
Final score: 13 Leinster 40