Scarlets 24 Ulster 17

Scarlets followed up on last week's win against Cardiff Blues, as they saw off Ulster to record a much needed win at Parc Y Scarlets

In a very tight affair, the home side managed to hold on to the first half lead they had built up, to leapfrog their Irish counterparts in the RaboDirect Pro 12 table. It was the visitors who started the better here, as they took a three point lead from an Ian Humphries penalty early on. That was the only score of the opening quarter of the contest though, as both teams failed to build up any real momentum, Ulster squandering some good chances. Things did pick up for the remainder of the first half, as Scarlets pushed for points, levelling up the scores with a penalty on twenty minutes from Aled Thomas. The home side then took the lead after half an hour, Thomas again on target, after an Ulster handling error. Scarlets then hit Ulster with a sucker punch, Williams going over for a try just before the half time whistle, converted by Thomas, to leave the visitors in trouble at the break. The second period again started slowly, before coming to life with an Ulster penalty from Humphries. Aled Thomas responded for Scarlets with his third penalty, before Humphries added another placed kick to leave a try between them yet again. Indeed, that try came for Ulster midway through the half, when Andrew Trimble dived over for them. Humphries missed the conversion, but there was now only two between them, setting up a grandstand finish. The home side responded almost immediately though, when centre Adam Warren went over for a try, Ulster now needed a converted try, and fast. That never came though, and substitute fly half Daniel Newtown kicked a penalty for Scarlets to make sure of the points. The Ulster side kicked one further penalty, but it was too late, as the Welsh side took the points.