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Ulster celebrate Luke Marshall's try. Presseye/Russell Pritchard/INPHO

Dominant second half drives Ulster to important win over Scarlets

Neil Doak’s side had to recover from a half-time deficit at Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster 25

Scarlets 20

ULSTER RECOVERED FROM a 13-6 half-time deficit to the Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium to secure an important 25-20 Guinness Pro12 victory over the Welsh side, retaining second position in the league in doing so.

Tries from Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Ruan Pienaar helped Neil Doak’s side to dominate the second half having headed into the break trailing the Scarlets.

Ian Humphreys, on his 100th cap for the northern province, threw an intercept pass late on in the first half to allow Scarlets number eight John Barclay to sprint clear for the first try of the game, Steve Shingler adding the conversion.

However, Ulster were far more accurate after the interval, scoring six minutes into the second half as Gilroy crossed for a wonderful long-range try. Pienaar was off target with the conversion effort, but then Humphreys’ offload allowed Marshall to cross and the South African made no mistake from the tee.

Pienaar then scored the third try himself, diving over from close to the tryline and then tacking on the two extra points.

Ulster’s hopes of a bonus-point win were suddenly very real, but it was the Scarlets who had the final act of the try scoring, Kristian Phillips dotting down following Jordan Williams’ sharp bust of the Ulster defence.

Ulster scorers:

Tries: Craig Gilroy

Conversions: Ruan Pienaar [2 from 3]

Penalties: Ruan Pienaar [2]

Scarlets scorers: 

Tries: John Barclay, Kristian Phillips

Conversions: Steve Shingler [2 from 2]

Penalties: Steve Shingler [2]

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Author
Steve O'Rourke
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