Ulster stop slump with hard-fought win over Connacht

Ulster 18 Connacht 10: For Ulster the misery of the a month which saw them slump to fifth ended in a hard-fought win in Belfast over a Connacht side which never took a backward step but was undone by injuries and some unforced errors.

It was a frenetic start as the wind and rain eased for kick-off , and Shane O’Leary settled confidently into the Connacht out-half role on his Pro 12 debut, but Ulster had the more attacking mind-set, and when the visitors went off-side at the ruck Paddy Jackson put his side 3-0 up after four minutes with a straightforward penalty.

But on seven minutes Niyi Adeolokun streaked into the Ulster ‘22’ to allow his pack to lay siege to the hosts’ line, only for Craig Gilroy to make a critical interception and race fully 50 metres before being hauled down.