Pro12: Scarlets 32-32 Ulster
Scarlets (24) 32 |
Tries: Robinson, Pitman, G Davies 2 |
Cons: Priestland 3 Pens: Priestland 2 |
Ulster (15) 32 |
Tries: Van der Merwe, Tuohy, Ludik, Trimble |
Con: Humphreys 3 Pens: Humphreys 2 |
Ulster fought back from 27-15 down to earn a bonus-point draw in a dramatic finish against Scarlets in Llanelli.
Andrew Trimble rounded the home defence late on after Scarlets had Liam Williams sent off for two yellow cards.
Fly-half Ian Humphreys added the conversion to level.
Gareth Davies scored two home tries and debutants Harry Robinson and Rory Pitman went over while Franco van der Merwe, Dan Tuohy and Louis Ludik crossed for the visitors.
Three-times capped Wales wing Harry Robinson gave the Scarlets a dream start, crossing wide on the right after two minutes and Rhys Priestland added the first of three conversions.
But missing the conversion of scrum-half Gareth Davies' second try - that looked to have given the hosts a bonus-point win - proved costly for the hosts.
Ulster responded to the Scarlets' bright opening when South Africa lock Van der Merwe went over after centre Stuart Olding's break for Humphreys to kick his first conversion.
Priestland fired over his first penalty as the hosts' early scrum dominance was rewarded.
However, Ulster went ahead for the only time in the game when Van der Merwe's lock partner Tuohy was freed.
Pitman, the former Osprey and Wasps player, had to rely on video ref Tim Hayes to confirm his outstretched arm had done enough to be awarded Scarlets' second try, converted by Priestland.
Humphreys replied with a penalty to keep the game tight.
But as the break approached, home lock Jake Ball reacted wisely after his interception to send Wales cap Davies on a 60-metre run to the line.
Humphreys responded with a second penalty, kicked after Wales full-back Williams was judged to have deliberately knocked on to thwart an Ulster attack, earning his first yellow card.
Davies' second try came after Gareth Owen's telling break and good work by Williams and Pitman.
But Priestland could not convert, and when full-back Ludik was sent over by Humphreys, Ulster were back in the hunt.
As the pressure mounted, Williams pushed over scrum-half Paul Marshall at the base of an attacking Ulster ruck to earn his second yellow card.
Ulster exploited the extra space to attack out wide from a scrum and Trimble made the most of it when the chance came with two minutes remaining.
Humphreys converted to level and Scarlets' final attack came to nothing.
TEAMS
Scarlets: L Williams, H Robinson, R King, S Williams, M Tagicakibau, R Priestland, G Davies; P John, K Owens (capt), R Jones, J Ball, J Snyman, R McCusker, J Barclay, R PitmanReplacements: E Phillips, R Evans, P Edwards, R Kelly, A Shingler, R Williams, S Shingler, G Owen.
Ulster: L Ludik, M Allen, J Payne, S Olding, C Gilroy, I Humphreys, P Marshall; C Black, R Herring, W Herbst, D Tuohy, F van der Merwe, R Diack, C Henry, R Wilson (capt).
Replacements: J Andrew, A Warwick, D Fitzpatrick, L Stevenson, N Williams, M Heaney, L Marshall, A Trimble.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ian Davies, Jon Mason (Wales)
Citing commissioner: Aurwel Morgan (Wales)
TMO: Tim Hayes (Wales)
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