Ulster forced to work hard for victory

Ulster 26 Celtic Warriors 20: Ulster recorded their fourth consecutive Celtic League win in a scrappy encounter at Ravenhill last night.

But Ulster will hardly complain at the manner of victory as it keeps them in second spot. Celtic Warriors suffered their fourth defeat in a row but managed to grab a bonus point.

Ulster started the brighter and a lineout won off the top by Matt Mustchin was spun right, allowing number eight Tony McWhirter to burst through after a short, angled pass from hooker Paul Shields. McWhirter linked with Andy Ward and the ball was moved right. Warriors were penalised under their posts but Adam Larkin scuffed the relatively simple penalty.

Warriors settled for the remainder of the first quarter without really threatening the Ulster line. Indeed the next decent chance fell to Ulster, again from a lineout. Warriors defence again held strong.

A 28th-minute break from Kieran Campbell put Larkin in space and the outhalf chipped for Tyrone Howe. The ball went over the Warriors line and the visitors went to inordinate lengths not to concede the scrum but in the end were forced to touch it down. Ulster came close from the setpiece but Warriors survived.

Larkin landed a penalty four minutes after the half hour. This stung Warriors, now without skipper Richard Bryan, into action and Emyr Lewis broke Ulster's first line of defence in the home side's 22 to cross under the posts. Phil Booth got over but referee David Changleng had blown for a penalty which Jenkins easily slotted to tie the scores at 3-3.

But three minutes into injury time Ulster made a decisive break and Howe's momentum took him into the left corner and Larkin converted for a 10-3 lead.

Three minutes later full back Lewis smashed through four tackles for an unconverted score to leave it 10-8 at the break.

And the home side drew first blood on the restart with Larkin kicking his second penalty. Jenkins replied with a 53rd-minute penalty and, after making four substitutions, two minutes later, Ulster cut loose. Topping launched the move and another searing break by Campbell put Bryn Cunningham under the posts. Larkin converted and it was 20-11 to the home side.

Just on the hour Jenkins hit his third penalty to narrow it to 20-14 and nine minutes later, Larkin replied to put Ulster nine points ahead at 23-14. But again Warriors came back though they only had Jenkins's fourth penalty to show for their efforts to keep them in bonus-point territory. But with two minutes of normal time left, Larkin kicked a fourth penalty. Jenkins, in injury time, replied in kind, making it 26-20.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; S Young, S Mallon, S Stewart, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore; M Mustchin, M McCullough; A Ward (capt), N Best, T McWhirter. Replacements: J Topping for Young; R Constable for Mallon; M Sexton for Shields; R Wilson for McWhirter (all 55 mins); B Young for McCormack (65 mins); R Frost for Mustchin (70 mins); R Spee for Campbell (77 mins);

CELTIC WARRIORS: E Lewis; G Wyatt, S James, J Bryant, R Mustoe; N Jenkins, A Chiltern; P Booth, M Rees, C Horsman; D Jones, N Budgett; R Parks, C Harris, R Bryan (capt). Replacements: R Jones for Bryan (31 mins).

Referee: D Changleng (SRU)