Ulster left red-faced as Scarlets breeze past

Celtic League/Llanelli 22; Ulster 9:Ulster's season descended further as they sank to another Celtic League defeat to champions Llanelli Scarlets at Stradey Park last night.

They were made to pay for a lacklustre forward effort with a sixth defeat of the league campaign that sees them slip down to ninth in table. Ulster are now eight points behind their nearest Irish rivals.

Llanelli had won just once in their last seven while Connacht's win over Newport Gwent Dragons earlier in the day heaped further pressure on Ulster to get a result last night.

Unsurprisingly both coaches have their eyes set on when they will be somewhere near full-strength. Injuries to key figures have exacerbated the high-profile departures in the summer from either team.

The Scarlets felt the loss of Wales outhalf Stephen Jones to Clermont-Auvergne. That was proved in the first half when his replacement Gareth Bowen missed four goal attempts.

Similarly Ulster were without David Humphreys, on international duty. The difference, however, was that after scuffing his first penalty, Adam Larkin struck his next two to give the visitors an early six-point lead.

That was remarkable given the way Ulster had been starved of possession. Centres Jonathan Bell and Paul Steinmetz were kept busy by Tongan Salesi Finau while Kieran Campbell recovered well to beat Barry Davies to Bowen's kick through.

Bowen got back on track before the break by which time both teams had been ludicrously reduced to 14 men by Scottish official Mike Hall. Neil Best and Chris Wyatt yellow carded for a dust-up with all the venom of a grandmother's tea party.

The second-half brought little more in the way of enterprise from either team until both players returned to the field.

Steinmetz was just short on a long-range penalty before Larkin struck his third following a burst by Best into the heart of the Llanelli defence.

However Ulster's failings at the lineout and their inability to hold possession were badly exposed by a team also desperately low on confidence.

Bowen chipped away at the lead before Phil John rumbled over on 67 minutes, Rod Moore unable to stop his opposite number from close range. A fifth penalty from Bowen prevented Ulster even claiming a bonus point.

LLANELLI: B Davies; G Evans (capt), T Selley, S Finau, A Havili; G Bowen, M Phillips; P John, A Gravelle, J Davies, A Jones, C Wyatt, J Mills, D Hodges, G Thomas. Replacements: C McDonald for Phillips (74), M Rees for Grevelle (60), V Cooper for J Mills (32-37) and for Jones (60).

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Young, J Bell, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore, G Longwell, R Frost, M McCullogh, C Feather (capt), N Best. Replacements: R Wilson for Longwell (47), T Howe for Maxwell (60), N Brady for Shields (66), N Doak for Campbell (71) S Young for Bell (77).

Referee: M Hall (Scotland)