MAGNERS LEAGUE Connacht 12 Ulster 14: ULSTER ESCAPED the Galway Sportsground last evening with the spoils and the bragging rights over Connacht for the season, but only just. Despite a poor first half, the home side put it up to Ulster in the second period and came perilously close to recording a clean sweep over the Irish provinces on their home ground this season.
Ulster were under siege for long periods, and Connacht, despite claims for a penalty try four minutes from the end, were denied. Although they won a penalty after Ulster left wing Simon Danielli hindered Fionn Carr within a metre from the try line, Connacht outhalf Ian Keatley missed the kick which would have given them the lead and a likely victory.
It was a complete turnaround from the first half which the visitors had dominated. Ulster had taken a deserved 11-5 lead at the break after controlling possession and utilising the conditions.
Through the boot of Ian Humphreys, Ulster kept the home side pinned inside their own half for long periods, before applying the pressure via their pack. The first scrum yielded a penalty which Humphreys converted from in front of the posts.
Five minutes later scrumhalf Paul Marshall set up field position again, and with prop Brendan Botha ensuring quick ruck ball, the ball was sent wide with Danielli crossing for the try. Humphreys added the extras, and as Ulster's big men started finding holes in the defence, they added another penalty on 18 minutes to stretch the lead to 11-0.
Connacht's unforced errors aided the Ulster cause. However when scrumhalf Frank Murphy intercepted a pass on the 22 as Ulster were under pressure from the home side's defence, Connacht capitalised. Keatley combined with Fionn Carr out wide, and the left wing did well to evade Clinton Schifcofske's tackle to open Connacht's account after 32 minutes with Keatley's conversion hitting the upright.
Ulster may have bossed the exchanges in the opening half, led by Stephen Ferris and Rory Best, but Connacht took command in the second, with the pack getting the measure of their opponents at the breakdown. Andrew Farley and Michael Swift, celebrating more than 150 games for the province, were solid in the lineout, and from a penalty to touch Connacht went through the phases before fullback Troy Nathan made the break and, from quick ball and a looping pass, flanker Andrew Browne crossed in the corner.
Keatley converted to give Connacht a 12-11 lead on 49 minutes, but it was short-lived.
Connacht were again penalised for collapsing the scrum four minutes later and Schifcofske slotted the penalty in front of the posts.
Connacht had their chances but their rising young star Keatley was unable to convert three penalties.
The last came four minutes from time amid claims for a penalty try, signalling the end of Connacht's home season, and giving Ulster a chance to improve their Magners League standing.
ULSTER: I Boss, C Schifscofske, D Cave, I Whitten, S Daneilli, I Humphreys, P Marshall, T Court, R Best, B Botha, E O'Donoghue, C DelFava, S Ferris, C Henry, R Diack. Replacements: N O'Connor for Humphreys (45 mins), B Young for Court (63 mins), R Caldwell for Del Fava (65 mins), R Dewey for Cave (66 mins), T Nagusa for Schifcofske (76 mins),
CONNACHT: T Nathan, F Carr,G Duffy, K Matthews, L Bibo, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Loughney, M Swift, A Farley, A Browne, R Ofisa, J Muldoon (cpt). Replacements: B McGovern for Loughney (53 mins), C Rigney for Browne (73 mins).
Referee: Alan Lewis.
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