Ulster gain hard-earned win over Connacht

Ulster 42 Connacht 27

Ulster stay top of the Celtic League table on points difference from Llanelli after a hard-fought and entertaining win over Connacht at Ravenhill.

The home side scored five tries and grabbed what could be a crucial bonus point in the race for the title as Ulster battled back from a poor first half and a nine point deficit – the lead changed hands three times – to finally take the game from an impressive Connacht.

David Humphreys ended the night with 17 points, from four conversions and three penalties, though Connacht will rue missing a straightforward penalty just before the 70th minute when they trailed 28-27.

The Parker Pen Cup semi-finalists opened the scoring in the first minute when a Mark McHugh break led to Conor McPhillips bursting through some weak Ulster tackling. McHugh missed the conversion.

Humphreys then missed a penalty before the home side struck, against the run of play, when Neil McMillan charged down a McHugh clearance and won the sprint for the line. Humphreys was wide with the conversion but Ulster had closed it to 5-5.

Three minutes later the visitors hit back with McHugh’s first penalty, but Ulster again evened the scoreline through Humphreys.

The ping-pong continued with another McHugh strike, on 20 minutes, before Ulster finally broke through the impressive Connacht defence.

Two minutes after the half hour, Humphreys burst through a gap and fed Tommy Bowe who, on his competitive debut, streaked away for a well-worked try. Humphreys added the points and Ulster led for the first time at 15-11.

But Connacht again came back and Wayne Munn smashed through after another drive from a lineout. McHugh’s conversion made it 18-15 to the visitors and they stretched this to 21-15 at the break after McHugh’s injury time penalty.

Connacht increased their lead three minutes into the half with a penalty from David Hewitt – who had replaced McHugh at half-time – to give the visitors a 24-15 lead which the home side narrowed to 25-18 through Humphreys’ second penalty.

Four minutes later, Ulster were back in front when they put together some good continuity and skipper Andy Ward drove over. Humphreys converted and Ulster were back in the lead at 25-24.

Humphreys made it 28-24 with a 59th minute penalty after replacement scrum-half Mike Walls was sinbinned.

But Connacht showed their resilience with a second penalty from Hewitt, closing it to 28-27 for the home side.

Connacht should then have snatched the lead back but Hewitt was wide with a straightforward penalty in the 68th minute.

Ulster grabbed a vital bonus point when Scott Young collected a Neil Doak chip and found himself straight through under the posts. Humphreys added the two points and Ulster were eight points clear.

Their lead was further increased when replacement Paddy Wallace scored in the last minute of normal time and Humphreys slotted his fourth conversion.