Magners League/Ulster 20 Llanelli 8:ULSTER CONTINUED their upturn in form with a valuable win at Ravenhill last night. They followed their bonus-point victory against the Newport Gwent Dragons a fortnight ago to extend new coach Matt Williams' unbeaten start.
Isaac Boss, Mark McCullough and Neil Best all touched down for a deserved win and killed off the Scarlets' hopes of closing the gap on Leinster in the title race.
Ulster controlled large periods of the match and never lost the lead. And they grew stronger in the final 20 minutes to draw closer to Newport Gwent Dragons and Glasgow above them in the league table.
Ireland hooker Rory Best skippered the home side while Paddy Wallace replaced Tommy Bowe, who with wing Andrew Trimble was not released by Ireland, at inside centre.
Scotland wing Simon Danielli, making his 100th appearance for Ulster, was handed the honour of leading out his team-mates at a wind-swept Ravenhill.
Llanelli Scarlets also welcomed back a trio of internationals in Dwayne Peel, Alix Popham and Ireland lock Simon Easterby.
Ulster began brightly despite the atrocious conditions of high winds and driving rain. Wallace made the first break of note on 10 minutes with a storming run through midfield. As the support came to aid the 22-year-old, the Scarlets were adjudged to be offside by referee Andrew Macpherson. But Niall O'Connor failed to capitalise as he struck the left post with his penalty attempt.
Ulster dominated possession and territory in a bruising opening quarter. The home side's lineout was proving to be particularly efficient, with former Australian lock Justin Harrison, who will move to Bath at the end of the season, making a nuisance of himself. But the Scarlets defence held firm.
Wallace continued to test the Scarlets rearguard with another mini-break on the half hour.
But the visitors hit back five minutes later with Regan King getting the chance to stretch his legs on a rare attack. In the following phase, the match nearly spoiled over when Harrison and Gavin Thomas became involved in a heated exchange.
The Scarlets were slowly wearing down their well-drilled opposition, and after a typical dart by Peel and then Dafydd James, they were granted a close-range penalty as Ulster strayed offside.
Rhys Priestland opened the scoring with the penalty from in front of the posts just two minutes before the break.
But Ulster hit back and O'Connor's kick to touch in the third minute of first-half injury time signalled their intentions. Harrison won the lineout and, after a series of drives, scrumhalf Boss scrambled over. O'Connor's tricky conversion attempt was held up in the wind, but the hosts held a slender 5-3 half-time lead.
The Scarlets introduced Easterby and Popham at the interval to inject some backrow muscle.
But Ulster stretched their lead when O'Connor's long-range penalty sailed through the posts. The home crowd were back on their feet minutes later as Ulster gained more turnover ball. But the Scarlets showed why they hold title aspirations when Priestland found a huge hole in the defence to level with 15 minutes remaining.
Priestland missed the conversion, and it cost his side dear when Ulster flanker Mark McCullough crashed over to score with seven minutes left.
Ulster weren't finished and in injury time, replacement Neil Best sealed victory with their third try.
ULSTER: M Bartholomeusz; M McCrea, P Steinmetz (D Cave 74), P Wallace, S Danielli; N O'Connor, I Boss; B Young, R Best (capt), T Court (J Fitzpatrick 65), J Harrison (C Del Fava 65), R Caldwell, M McCullough, S Ferris, K Dawson (N Best 65). Replacements: N Brady, P Marshall, B Cunningham.
SCARLETS: M Stoddart; D James, R King, Gavin Evans, N Brew; R Priestland, D Peel; Iestyn Thomas, M Schwalger, D Manu, D Jones, L Reed, J Bater (capt) (S Easterby 40) (P John 80), Nathan Thomas, (A Popham 40) Gavin Thomas (D Day 71). Replacements: K Owens, G Cattle, Ceiron Thomas.
Referee: Andy Macpherson (SRU)
