Jones denies Ulster an elusive away win

Scarlets 16 Ulster 16: Ulster have yet to win on the road this season but came might close against the Scarlets. Only a Stephen Jones penalty three minutes from time denied the visitors who had to settle for a share of the spoils.

In a thoroughly uninspiring Pool four encounter in the wind and rain at Parc y Scarlets, a draw seemed a fair result for two sides, who both looked thoroughly out of sorts.

The Scarlets enjoyed a wealth of possession in the opening minutes but it was Ulster who got on the scoreboard first through outhalf Ian Humphreys with a sweetly struck drop-goal from 30 metres out on 12 minutes.

But when visiting number eight Robbie Diack failed to roll away at a ruck inside his own 22, Stephen Jones levelled the scores with a 18th-minute penalty.

The Scarlets' current plight was put into full context when they conceded a soft try on 24 minutes when Humphreys ghosted past opposition lock Vernon Cooper and went over in the right corner.

And more soft defence from the Scarlets allowed Ulster to score a second try seven minutes before half-time. Darren Cave glided between David Lyons and Jonathan Davies before fellow centre Paddy Wallace crashed across the line.

Six minutes into the second half, Scarlets' pressure eventually told when wing Darren Daniel exploited an overlap to go over on the right for a try which was converted by Stephen Jones. That after centre Jonathan Davies had nearly squeezed in down the left.

That seemed to spark the Scarlets into life and they were level at 13-13 when Stephen Jones drilled a penalty through the uprights on 53 minutes. Four minutes later Humphreys had to watch as a long-range penalty attempt just fell short of the upright. And he missed again with 13 minutes later.

But Humphreys used the elements perfectly to slot over his first penalty on 71 minutes to edge Ulster back into a 16-13 advantage.

With three minutes left on the clock Stephen Jones got the Scarlets back level with a penalty in front of the posts.

Scarlets: R Priestland; D Daniel (L Williams, 55 min), R King, J Davies, M Jones; S Jones, M Roberts (G Cattle, 75 min); P John, M Rees (K Owens, 61 min), D Manu, V Cooper, D Day, D Jones, D Lyons (capt), S Easterby.

Ulster: B Cunningham; A Trimble (P Steinmetz, 65 min), D Cave, P Wallace, S Danielli (C Schifcofske, 7 min); I Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick (T Court, 55 min), R Best (capt), B Botha (J Fitzpatrick, 68 min), E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell (M McCullough, 57 min), S Ferris, R Diack, D Pollock (K Dawson, 65 min)