Celtic League/Leinster - 9 Ulster - 8: Leinster kept their season humming along nicely last night after a typically tetchy encounter with their northern neighbours, who arrived with a determination to deny any fluency at the breakdown or in the home side's back play.
What was most surprising about Mark McCall's team was that they felt the need to disrupt rather than take on a weakened home pack. Nevertheless, it nearly worked as the likes of Gordon D'Arcy, Brian O'Driscoll - a replacement for the injured David Quinlan on the half hour - and Felipe Contepomi got precious little ball in space.
However, the tactics meant referee Alain Rolland blew them off the park - much to the Ulster men's frustration.
Still, it took until the final minute of normal time before Contepomi, kicking despite David Holwell's presence on the field, took on the mantle of match winner with only his third penalty from six attempts.
It was some sharp running from Contepomi at full back that had looked likely to engineer something early on but Girvan Dempsey should still come back in for the European Cup trip to the Rec, against Bath on January 8th, as the Argentinian lacked the Irish international's reliability in the other aspects of full back play.
In the battle up front, Leo Cullen sneaked the man of the match award, two quality offloads shading it, in a game that will leave a few bumps and bruises ahead of the next round of interprovincial derbies on New Year's Day.
Ulster made little use of a decent wind in the opening half with only a fourth-minute penalty from Adam Larkin to show until Tyrone Howe profited from some good fortune in the third minute of stoppage time.
D'Arcy threw a wild pass on half way which the Ulster winger kicked on three times before eventually touching down. However, Howe only made it because the pursuing O'Driscoll tripped, while easily closing ground.
Larkin missed the conversion but Ulster remarkably went into the second half with an 8-0 lead after Leinster had monopolised possession in the middle 20 odd minutes while failing to put a single point on the board.
Several penalties, well within the prolific Holwell's range, came their way but due to the conditions they opted to play the corners and rely on set- pieces to deliver. With the platform in place a series of and a classic try-saving tackle by Kevin Maggs on Aidan McCullen ensured the Ulster line held firm.
David Blaney was also put into space by a neat D'Arcy half-break but a lack of support ensured the cover gobbled him up.
Ulster gradually lifted the siege with Larkin only held up deep in the Leinster 22 by O'Driscoll before Howe did what was asked of him for the try.
Right after the break Howe and the Irish captain were again at the hub of things with both receiving yellow cards for scrapping over by the terrace touchline. From the subsequent penalty Contepomi reduced arrears.
Leinster continued to dominate and persistent offside allowed Contepomi to bring the visitors into range with a penalty from in front of the posts. He, however, failed with a strike from his own half just before the hour, as did Paul Steinmetz moments later.
The blood pressure continued to rise with O'Driscoll feeling the full force of his old UCD clubmate Ronan McCormack in the tackle. By then Declan Kidney had unleashed his trump cards in Malcolm O'Kelly, Shane Byrne and Eric Miller - the latter in particular showing enthusiasm against his former, albeit adopted, province.
Denis Hickie also came in on the wing but doubts began to surface whether the deficit could be overturned, especially with Larkin beginning to do a more than a passable impression of Humphreys at pivot.
Four minutes from time Contepomi got another chance at redemption, for another blatant offside this time from Nigel Brady, but his third long-range attempt drifted wide. However, and much to the crowd's satisfaction, Ulster were unable to behave on the deck and Rolland awarded another penalty, this time in front of the posts and 45 metres out, and also sent Rowan Frost to the bin. Contepomi nailed it and Leinster escaped.
Scoring sequence: 4 mins: A Larkin pen, 0-3; 43: T Howe try, 0-8. half-time 0-8. 43: F Contepomi pen, 3-8; 53: F Contepomi pen, 6-8; 79: F Contepomi pen, 9-8.
LEINSTER: F Contepomi; S Horgan, G D'Arcy, D Quinlan, K Lewis; D Holwell, B O'Meara; R Corrigan (capt), D Blaney, R Nebbett; L Cullen, B Gissing; A McCullen, V Costello, N Ronan. Replacements: B O'Driscoll for D Quinlan (32 mins), M O'Kelly for B Gissing, S Byrne for D Blaney, E Miller for A McCullen (all 62 mins), D Hickie for K Lewis (71 mins).
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; S Best, R Best, R Moore; G Longwell, M McCullough; C Feather (capt), R Wilson, N Best. Replacements: R McCormack for S Best (half-time), R Frost for N Best (54 mins), N Brady for R Best (65 mins).
Referee: A Rolland (IRFU).
