Connacht 7 Ulster 9:STUART OLDING'S drop-goal four minutes from time gave Ulster their second win of the Under-20s championship at Dubarry Park last night.

Ulster struggled to shake off a determined Connacht side, but Oldings late drop goal and two earlier penalties ensured his side retained their 100 per cent record so far.

After losing out to Munster in the first round, defending champions Connacht needed a win to kick-start their campaign, but instead Olding deservedly kicked Ulster into the lead with a penalty after 18 minutes.

But three minutes later Alex OMeara was on his toes to intercept a flat Ulster pass and canter in from halfway to leave Dara Leader with a simple conversion for a 7-3 lead.

Leader missed two late penalties in the first half to stretch Connacht’s advantage, but, after the westerners held their four-point advantage at the break, Ulster soon took control.

Olding slotted his second kick in the 63rd minute before his drop goal gave Ulster a 9-7 lead.

Leader could have edged it for Connacht late on, but his long-range penalty dropped inches wide to leave the champions winless.

CONNACHT: C Joyce; C Fitzgibbon, M Roche, R Casey, A OMeara; D Leader, B Digby; A Boland, J Connolly, J Dever; S OBrien, U Dillane; A Connaughton, P Maxwell, J Connolly. Replacements: R Keller for Casey (h-t), B Teape for Dever (54 mins), D Heath for Digby (74 mins).

ULSTER: R Scholes; R Adair, R Martin, C Farrell, D Busby; S Olding, J Creighton; J Caulfield, J Andrew, C Taylor; J Donnan, M Rea; C Joyce, M Clarke, B Alexander. Replacements: S Hooks for Clarke (32 mins), G Bartley for Rea (74 mins).

Referee: B OConnell (IRFU).