Ulster's Andrew Trimble attempts to counter attack at Parc-y-Scarlets.
Ulster slumped to their fourth league defeat in a row at Parc-y-Scarlets on Saturday afternoon losing 24 – 17 to a Scarlets side that looked fairly average on paper.
With no live coverage on TV it was a case of the Gusher and Con Radio show for our coverage and it seems that even this normally upbeat pair are being dragged into the depths of depression by Ulster’s recent performances, though Ryan has to be congratulated for talking up the Cornerflag contracted players while still giving an overall gloomy outlook.
For what it’s worth the game seems to have gone pretty much the same way as the last three. Bright start, bit of a balls up, penalty, penalty, penalty, go behind, go further behind, soft try, valiant attempt to chase the game but too little too late with the game petering out to the inevitable defeat, the only difference this time round is that Ulster managed to hold on for a losing bonus.
Putting a little bit more meat on the bones, Ulster started well going into an early 0 – 3 lead thanks to a Humphreys penalty. Shortly after Ulster had another reasonable penalty chance but instead opted to kick for an attacking line out from which Ulster were penalised and the home team started to work their way into the game.
A succession of penalties at the break down allowed Scarlets to work their way into the Ulster half keeping the visitors under pressure and with Danielli struggling at full back the home team began to get on top.
Ulster continued to get penalised at the break down and two penalties by Aled Thomas put Scarlets into a 6 – 3 lead with approximately 10 minutes of the first half remaining.
Scarlets upped the pressure in the closing minutes, but Ulster looked to be holding on till the break until, what was described as, an aberration at the breakdown saw Scarlets Laim Williams pick up the loose ball and skate under the posts for a converted try to give the hosts a 10 point lead at the break.
Half Time Score: Scarlets 13 Ulster 3
Ulster scored the opening points of the second half with another Humphreys penalty after good work by Gilroy, but soon Ulster were back to their wasteful best, handing Scarlets another penalty under the posts. The penalty was duly dispatched by Thomas giving the home side a 16 – 6 lead.
Ulster enjoyed a period of dominance with Trimble to the fore but time after time they let Scarlets off the hook giving away penalties when they were in good positions. Good work by Pienaar saw Ulster close the gap with another Humphreys penalty and moments later Ulster got another break thanks to the South African. A chip ahead from the maestro looked to be heading harmlessly for touch in goal but, and as the Scarlets defence watched the ball roll towards touch, Trimble nipped in to dot it down for an Ulster try. The conversion was missed but Ulster were back in the game at 16 -14 with 15 minutes left.
D’Arcy, Cave Diack, Stevenson and Brady on for Danielli, Wallace, McComish, Tuohy and Kyriacou respectively but the mistakes continue and the game swings back to the Scarlets. Adam Warren scores in the corner but when the conversion is missed Ulster are still in with a chance with the score at 21- 14 as the game goes into the last five minutes.
Scarlets get another penalty and it looks like the bonus is gone but Ulster get one back and end the game in the Scarlets 22 with time eventually running out on an equalising score.
Final Score: Scarlets 24 Ulster 17
Ulster (15-9): Simon Danielli, Andrew Trimble, Nevin Spence, Paddy Wallace, Craig Gilroy, Ian Humphreys, Ruan Pienaar. (1-8): Tom Court, Andi Kyriacou, Declan Fitzpatrick, Johann Muller (capt), Dan Tuohy, Pedrie Wannenburg, Mike McComish, Chris Henry. (16-23): Nigel Brady, Paddy McAllister, Adam Macklin, Lewis Stevenson, Robbie Diack, Paul Marshall, Darren Cave, Adam D’Arcy.
Scarlets (15-9): Daniel Evans, Liam Williams, Sean Lamont, Adam Warren, Andy Fenby, Aled Thomas, Rhodri Williams. (1-8) Rhodri Jones, Ken Owens, Rhys Thomas, Dominic Day, Damian Welch Rob McCusker (capt), Johnathan Edwards, Ben Morgan. (16-23): Matthew Rees, Phil John, Simon Gardiner, Aaron Shingler, Richie Pugh, Tavis Knoyle, Daniel Newton, Scott Williams.
After the game Ulster were pretty quick in getting out a press statement – unusual in itself!
In a startlingly upbeat statement, perhaps taking advantage of the fact that few Ulster supporters would have seen the match, McLaughlin remained very positive despite Ulster’s fourth defeat in a row, stating …
We started well and scored a penalty and maybe could have scored a try in the early periods, but the Scarlets put us under a bit of pressure before half time. We thought we defended exceptionally well, we counter-rucked brilliantly twice during that period but unfortunately the ball spilled out and they scored under the posts. It was a real fluke of a try but it’s one of those things.
In the second half the Scarlets came at us again but we clawed our way back to 16-14 and we put ourselves in a position to possibly win the game. But a defensive error let them away. We’re disappointed not to win it but at least we got a bonus point in the end. Credit to the boys for fighting to the end. The conditions were very poor for both sides which didn’t help either.
McLaughlin acknowledges there are a few things for his squad to work on if they are to end this losing streak against an in-form Connacht at Ravenhill next Saturday.
We’ll have to ensure we are in the best position possible to get a result against Connacht next weekend. They are playing exceptionally well; they haven’t had many players at the World Cup so they have continuity and are a settled side. Their league position highlights that. It’s not going to be easy but hopefully with another week behind us we can improve on our kicking game and our attack.
It was great to get the lads back in and give them some game time. Hopefully bringing Stephen (Ferris) and Rory (Best) into the equation next week should help even further.
All well and good and I suppose the coach has to glean whatever positives he can from the game, but I would have been happier if he said something along the lines, “With matches running out in the build up to the Heineken Cup, we had to try a few things and they didn’t work. We continued to show a lack of discipline at key times and, myself included, we made some appalling tactical errors at key points in the game with a lack of concentration and poor execution under pressure.”
I think most supporters could have accepted that, but a defeat against Connacht next Saturday would be unacceptable to the faithful Brethren at Ravenhill and should Ulster not win at least two of the next three games the season is as good as over on all fronts. Backs are too the wall boys – it’s time to deliver. Tweet that!
Highlights of the game should be on ScrumV on BBC2 Wales this afternoon (Sunday) at 5:00pm. We’ll stick them up later if Rooster remembers to record them!
You can read our live text coverage of the game overleaf. Click here or on Page 2 below!
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