Leinster break Ulster's Ravenhill record

Ulster 15 Leinster 26

Ulster’s two-year and 21-game unbeaten home record in the Celtic League fell at a windswept Ravenhill to a well-organised Leinster outfit who took their chances and ruthlessly closed Ulster out of proceedings in new coach Mark McCall’s first home game in charge of the home side.

Ulster were left to rue three missed first-half penalties by outside half Paddy Wallace – he ended the day with only two successful kicks from six attempts – when the home side had the wind at their backs but, even so, Leinster always looked good for the result.

They also had a more efficient kicking outside half in David McAllister who gave Wallace a lesson in how to kick with the wind by landing two excellent second-half penalties to set up Leinster’s win.

Indeed, the visitors, whose pack put in a superb performance, should have grabbed a bonus point and only James Norton putting a foot in touch robbed them of the four points.

Playing against the wind, Leinster struck first when Ben Gissing was driven over from a lineout after the visitors had kicked for the corner following a penalty.

McAllister missed the difficult conversion after the fifth-minute score but Declan Kidney’s side looked good for their start.

Ulster hit back with a ninth-minute penalty from Paddy Wallace and then two minutes later, they took the lead after winger Andy Maxwell crossed the Leinster line after collecting a Neil Doak chip.

Even though Doak appeared to have knocked the ball on before chipping for Maxwell, who himself appeared to be offside, referee Nigel Williams gave the score. Wallace converted to give Ulster the lead 10-5.

Wallace then went on to miss three penalty attempts, the third of which came off the upright right in front of the Leinster posts after Des Dillon was sin-binned.

Ulster were left to rue these missed opportunities as the visitors finished strongly and, right on half-time, centre Christian Warner got over the try line after some relentless pressure from the visitors and a superb offload by David Quinlan.

McAllister was short with the conversion and the sides ended the half locked at 10-10.

The Leinster number 10, with the wind at his back after the turnaround, made good use of the elements with two long-range penalties – the second of which was from just inside the Leinster half – to give the visitors a 16-10 lead.

The visitors should have gone further ahead just on the hour when a break out by Shane Jennings put James Norton clear. But as the full back touched down, the try was disallowed as we was adjudged to have put a foot in touch.

This spurred Ulster into life and, after 63 minutes, Bryn Cunningham dived over for an unconverted score in the corner after a break from Maxwell.

Ulster now trailed by one point but a penalty from Brian O’Meara gave the visitors a 19-15 lead which was extended in injury time by replacement scrum half Brian O’Riordan. O’Meara added the points to give Leinster their win.