A contribution of 17 points by outhalf Eric Elwood helped Connacht to success over Ulster in a representative tie at the Galway Sportsground on Saturday, which aided both provinces' preparations for their forthcoming Celtic League quarter-finals.
Ulster led 3-0 after three minutes with a penalty by outhalf Paddy Wallace. This was cancelled out by an Elwood penalty. Adam Larkin and James Topping crossed for tries to extend Ulster's lead before Elwood reduced the gap to seven points with a penalty. Wallace responded with a penalty in the 25th minute and Connacht had the final score of the half to leave the score at 16-9 in Ulster's favour.
Connacht pegged back the lead further in the 54th minute with a penalty by Elwood and 11 minutes later Darren Yapp crossed for a try which Elwood converted. The final score arrived near the end from the boot of Elwood.
CONNACHT: M McHugh; P Duignan, C Keane, T Allnutt, W Munn; E Elwood, E Reddan; R McCormack, T Kearns, P Bracken, D Browne, R Frost, P Neville, M Swift, J O'Connor. Replacements: J Charlie for P Neville, half-time; C Rigney for Swift, half-time; D McFarland for Bracken, 43 mins; T Robinson for Duignan, 52 mins; D Yapp for Keane, 52 mins; J Ferris for Reddin, 52 mins; M Hayes for Kearns, 78 mins.
ULSTER: S Coulter; J Topping, R Constable, A Larkin, T Howe; P Wallace, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Crick, S Best, A Blair, G Longwell, T McWhirter, R Nelson, D Allen. Replacements: S McDowell for Topping, half-time; P Johns for Blair, half-time; K Campbell for Doak, 54 mins; S Young for Constable, 60 mins; R Weir for Crick, 64 mins; C Boyd for Fitzpatrick, 67 mins.
Referee: E Walsh (Connacht).
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