Lucky Ulster squeeze past Borders

Borders 15 Ulster 19

Title-chasing Ulster enjoyed the best of luck as the Borders’ quest to secure a Heineken Cup slot suffered another major setback with Celtic League defeat.

Simon and Neil Best claimed the scores which decided the issue at Netherdale, leaving the home side needing a miracle to avoid ending up on the Celtic League basement.

The Irishmen raced into the attack and pinned the Scots back inside their danger zone from the first whistle.

And they should have drawn first blood when Tyrone Howe surged clear of the markers – but he paid dearly for a lapse of concentration as the ball slipped from his grasp.

Ulster kept up the pressure and it was no surprise for the crowd when they watched prop Simon Best plough over.

Borders had a penalty opportunity to claw back three points, but Gareth Morton’s effort drifted off target.

Ulster capitalised on the miss by bagging another three points thanks to a strike by Test stand-off David Humphreys.

But the home brigade burst back into the contest when number eight Semo Sititi celebrated his comeback from suspension with a fine try in the wake of clever work by skipper Kevin Utterson.

The fans showed their frustration as Morton was wide with the conversion and a subsequent penalty.

But Tanner Vili took over the kicking duties to land the equaliser on the stroke of the break.

There was little to choose between the sides in the early stages of the second half, but Humphreys bagged a snap drop-goal to edge the visitors back in front.

Neil Best effectively ended the Borders’ challenge with the second try before Humphreys added another penalty.

Substitute Iain Fairley gave the Scots late hope with try goaled by Vili, but Ulster held out.