Rugby: O’Meara delivers for Leinster

Leinster 32 Ulster 30

The former Irish scrum half received a standing ovation when he was replaced by Brian O'Riordan eight minutes from the end of normal time. By then, O'Meara had earned enough to win the Man of the Match Award with a personal contribution of 22 points and a 100% return from his goal kicking.

But instead of romping to an easy win, Leinster conceded two late tries to the league leaders and Ulster garnered a bonus point that could, by the end of the season, prove priceless.

Despite David Humphreys' comparable lack of success in front of goal, his late contribution was crucial to Ulster's cause as they launched a meaningful rally.

Leinster started with a flourish when O'Meara kicked a fourth minute penalty, but Ulster quickly equalised through Humphreys in an action-packed opening half.

Leinster went back in front when awarded a penalty for offside, and O'Meara restored the home lead with a successful kick. The lead went out to 9-3 in the 18th minute when Ulster conceded a penalty at a ruck inside the '22. O'Meara made no mistake with the easy chance.

O'Meara continued to punish the leaders when he kicked another goal, a conversion, in the 23rd minute.

But the main honours on this occasion went to Felipe Contepomi. The Argentinean was forced to line out in the number 13 shirt in the absence of the injured Brian O'Driscoll and made a big impact.

The threat was evident when David Quinlan gave him the space to make the vital thrust. Contepomi caught a difficult pass and ran through unopposed to score.

Sure enough, Humphreys made the most of his second penalty chance to narrow the gap to ten points but O'Meara was again on song with a long range effort to make the score 19-6 after 30 minutes.

A lot of Leinster's good work was undone when Ulster sneaked in for a 36th minute try albeit a very good one. Centre Paul Steinmetz slipped inside an attempted tackle from Leek, and Tyrone Howe produced the rest of the hard yards to score under the posts, with Humphreys converting. Ulster were back in the game.

It got worse for Leinster when John McWeeney stormed away after intercepting a pass from Humphreys only to be called back for offside.

The Irish international knocked over another penalty to drag the gap down to just three points but O'Meara at least had the satisfaction of responding with his sixth successful goal kick to establish a 22-16 lead at the interval.

Despite territorial advantage, Ulster fell further behind when O'Meara kicked another penalty in a rare Leinster assault midway through the period.

The scrum half was again centre stage 12 minutes from the end when his delicate chip put Paddy Wallace under all sorts of pressure. Leinster quickly pounced on the full back and Victor Costello emerged with possession to charge through for a try that O'Meara converted.

The excitement continued, however, and Steinmetz finally finished off a series of Ulster attacks two minutes into injury time. Humphreys added the conversion even though his effort looked to have slipped past the left hand upright.

Six minutes later he slipped through a gap for a try that he converted from the right hand touchline.

LEINSTER: G D'Arcy, J McWeeney, F Contepomi, D Quinlan, B Burke, M Leek, B O'Meara, R Corrigan (captain), S Byrne, P Coyle, M O'Kelly, B Gissing, A McCullen, V Costello, S Jennings.

Replacements: J Moran for Coyle (82), G Hickie for Byrne (82), D Dillon for McCullen (58), A Kearney, B O'Riordan for O'Meara (72), J Norton, P McKenna for Leek (72).

ULSTER: P Wallace, J Topping, A Larkin, P Steinmetz, T Howe, D Humphreys, N Doak, R Kempson, M Sexton, S Best, M Mustchin, R. Frost, A Ward (captain), R Wilson, N Best.

Replacements: R Moore and P Shields for S Best and Sexton (both 64), M McCullough for Mustchin (60), W Brosnihan for N Best (64), K Campbell for Doak (60, injured), B Cunningham for Wallace (68).

Referee: N Owens (Wales)