RUGBY MAGNERS LEAGUE: Ulster 20 Scarlets 18:THIS TIME there were no last-gasp dramatics from Ruan Pienaar last night, but Ulster were made to fight every inch of the way for their sixth consecutive Magners League win which put them second in the table, ahead of today's other games, and still rigorously pursuing a play-off place.
With three games left Brian McLaughlin’s side are in good shape to make the semi-finals and with their sixth win have matched a run they last put together when winning the title in 2006.
Their attention now turns to the Heineken Cup quarter-final with Northampton tomorrow week, though there will be plenty of concern as, again, Ulster had to battle all the way to do what may prove to be serious damage to the Scarlets’ play-off hopes.
The returning Ian Humphreys made quite an impression. Though looking less than sharp at times he scored two tries which were largely created out of nothing, the first being an individual effort on his part. Pienaar also had a significant impact with two penalties and conversions.
Ulster made a stuttering start and after Pienaar and Paddy Wallace had failed to deal with the swirling wind, by putting kicks out on the full almost one after the other, the home side strayed offside at a ruck and Stephen Jones made it 3-0 after eight minutes.
Ulster struggled to get their game together, with the Scarlets backrow winning turnovers and Morgan Stoddart making serious inroads with, on one occasion, a Pienaar tackle bringing the Wales winger down short of the line.
Pienaar, taking the kicks instead of Humphreys, then tried a monster penalty effort from 55 metres but was wide and then saw his second penalty from closer range also float away on the wind.
Still, almost out of nothing, they did grab a try when a Pienaar pass saw Humphreys step between Lou Reed and Ben Morgan to then round Rhys Priestland and plant the ball under the posts. It may have been more a case of brain fade from the Scarlets’ first-up defence but Pienaar’s conversion made it 7-3 just before the half-hour mark. Ulster may well have then extended their lead when Adam D’Arcy put Andrew Trimble into space but only a last-ditch covering tackle from Ben Morgan prevented a certain score.
Jones ensured Ulster’s led by only a point after Simon Danielli was penalised at a ruck but then, two minutes later, the visitors were pinged for the same offence and Pienaar kicked his first successful penalty to give Ulster a 10-6 lead. He stretched Ulster’s lead further with an excellent strike from out on the left touchline after the Scarlets had gone into a ruck from the side and the kick gave Ulster a useful a 13-6 lead at the turnaround.
But Scarlets hit back seconds after the restart when Jon Davies got past Danielli and D’Arcy to make the right corner. Rhys Priestland, taking over the kicking duties from the substituted Jones, missed the difficult conversion.
Ulster had a fortunate escape after Stoddart kicked through and was adjudged by the TMO to have knocked the ball on when trying to reclaim his kick before touching it down. Things looked to be definitely going against the visitors as Josh Turnbull was sinbinned for illegal use of the boot but, crucially, the Welsh survived and indeed came close to scoring twice while the flanker was off the field.
But Ulster suddenly struck this time coming off turnover ball when Danielli took it through the middle of a ruck which opened up a huge space for him to run into the Scarlets 22. Tom Court kept the move alive before Pienaar gifted the Ulster outhalf a stroll over the line.
The South African converted for a 20-11 lead and looking comfortable for the win.
But the Scarlets replacement Aaron Shingler got on the end of a Pienaar pass and scampered away for a try which Priestland converted to cut Ulster’s lead to two points but the home side held on.
ULSTER:A D'Arcy; A Trimble, N Spence, P Wallace, S Danielli; I Humphreys, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best (capt), BJ Botha, J Muller, D Tuohy, R Diack, W Faloon, P Wannenburg. Replacements: P McCallister for BJ Botha (60 mins), C Henry for W Faloon (63 mins), T Barker for R Diack (71 mins).
SCARLETS:R Priestland, G Maule, R King, J Davies, M Stoddart, S Jones, T Knoyle, I Thomas, M Rees (capt), R Thomas, L Reed, R McCusker, J Turnbull, J Edwards, B Morgan. Replacements: Daniel Evans for S Jones (half-time), S Williams for R King (46-55mins blood), S Williams for J Davies, D Lyons for R McCusker (both 63 mins), P Edwards for R Thomas (69 mins), R Jones for I Thomas (71 mins), A Shingler for J Edwards (72 mins), E Phillips for M Rees (76 mins). Yellow cards: J Turnbull 49-59mins.
Referee:G Knox (SRU).
