Ulster deny Connacht consolation bonus point

Ulster 23 Connacht 14

Ulster recorded their fourth consecutive home win, in all competitions, and an important result as they bid to avoid any potential threat to their Heineken Cup place by finishing below their opponents in the Celtic League.

David Humphreys’ 81st minute penalty also ensured the home side move ahead of Connacht in the table as the visitors were denied a bonus point.

Tries from Tommy Bowe and Paul Steinmetz and 13 points from the boot of Humphreys saw Ulster home in a game marred by wind and rain.

Playing into the swirling conditions, Ulster settled quickly and Humphreys opened their account with a well-struck penalty after six minutes.

Their lead was swiftly cancelled out after the home side knocked on near their own line from the restart.

Paul Warwick got Connacht on the scoresheet after Ulster were penalised after two scrums in the danger zone.

However, he missed a difficult 40-metre penalty attempt before Ulster were penalised at a driving maul and back chat to referee David Keane saw Warwick gain another 10 metres to bring him within range.

He made no mistake and the visitors were ahead 6-3 after 21 minutes. However, this time, it was Ulster who responded quickly and a chip from Tyrone Howe was dribbled over the line between Bryn Cunningham and Tommy Bowe, the latter getting the touchdown which Humphreys superbly converted from the right touchline to give his side a 10-6 lead.

Then, with John O’Sullivan yellow carded in the 31st minute for persistent infringing, Ulster failed to capitalise from an attacking lineout on Connacht’s line.

The result was a breakout from the visitors which resulted in Warwick’s third successful penalty to narrow Ulster’s lead to one point which is how it ended at the break after the last act of the half saw a Humphreys penalty attempt go wide.

Ulster made a lively start on the resumption and, with the wind at their backs, put the visitors under immediate pressure.

With rain adding to the already difficult conditions, Matt McCullough came close to sliding over two minutes into play and then Humphreys was wide with a straightforward penalty after a punch up between both sets of forwards.

Humphreys did manage a monster 50-metre effort to make it 13-9 before, after 52 minutes, Connacht failed to deal with a hack through and Steinmetz got the score which Humphreys converted to make it 20-9 to the home side.

The visitors were not finished and, after battling into Ulster’s 22, a chip from Chris Keane was collected for an unconverted score by Bernard Jackman to cut Ulster’s lead to six points.

However, it was Humphreys who had the last word with a injury-time penalty.