Connacht 20 Ulster 22
Ulster survived a late Connacht fightback to claim a first win in four games, and a first win out west since 2015.
The Northerners looked to be heading to a comfortable win as they led by fourteen points with time almost up. However, two late tries from Jared Butler and Adam Byrne set up a grandstand finish as Jack Carty lined up a conversion to earn his side a draw, but he could only look on in agony as his effort sailed across the face of the goal.
In the end it was Ulster’s dominant third quarter that won them the game.
Player of the match Tom Stewart went over twice to take his tally this season to six that saw Ulster bring an end to three defeats in succession.
In what was a frantic opening, it was Ulster who started with the greater attacking intent. But a combination of poor execution and some stout Connacht defending prevented Ulster from making any serious headway into the Connacht red zone.
The homeside launched their first attack after 21 minutes. Out-half Carty looked to move the ball wide, but his pass to Hansen was picked off by Ulster’s Ethan McIlroy. However, Carty did get back to help his defence out and McIlroy’s break came to nothing.
Eventually the deadlock was broken just shy of the half hour mark, and it was the visitors that claimed a deserving lead.
Moving the ball from right to left, winger Rob Lyttle showed good footwork to touch down in the corner. McIlroy and Luke Marshall showed some lovely touches in the build up to the score and when Tiarnan O’Halloran failed with an intercept attempt, Lyttle was on hand to pick up the pieces.
But Connacht’s reply was swift.
Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey was penalised for being offside in midfield and Carty duly dispatched the penalty between the posts and Ulster’s lead was cut to just two points.
A lead that Ulster held until the half time break.
Dan McFarland’s side started the second half again on the front foot and within 13 minutes the game took on a completely different complexion.
Yet again Ulster had their maul to thank as they took a firm hold of the contest when hooker Stewart powered over twice and Ulster finally made their dominance show on the scoreboard.
A raft of Connacht changes did inspire a brief revival and on the hour scrum half Caolan Blade wriggled over after breaking free from a Connacht maul.
Stewart did go close to claiming a hattrick but a last-ditch tackle from Connacht’s Peter Dooley prevented the Ulster man from grabbing a four try bonus point.
John Cooney’s penalty looked to have sealed the win but in the final two minutes the home crowd found their voice and with Greg Jones in the sinbin, Connacht took full advantage to score two quick fire tries.
However, their luck was out as Carty’s conversion was off target much to the delight of the men in white.
Connacht: T O’Halloran, J Porch, T Farrell B Aki, M Hansen, J Carty, C Blade, D Buckley, S Delahunt, F Bealham, J Murphy, N Murray, O Dowling, C Oliver, C Prendergast.
Replacements: J Butler for Murphy (48), D Heffernan for Delahunt (48), S Hurley-Langton for Oliver (51), P Dooley for Buckley (52), A Byrne for O’Halloran (54), D Hawkshaw for Aki (61), K Marmion for Blade (69), Robertson-McCoy for Bealham (69).
Tries: Blade (60), Butler (78), Byrne (85)
Conversions: Marmion (78)
Penalties: Carty (35)
Ulster: M Lowry, E McIlroy, L Marshall, S McCloskey, R Lyttle, N Doak, J Cooney, R Sutherland, T Stewart, M Moore, A O’Connor, I Henderson, D McCann, M Rea, N Timoney.
Replacements: S Moore for Lowry (HT), G Milasinovich for Moore (52), S Carter for O’Connor (53), G Jones for McCann (57), E O’Sullivan for Sutherland (65), J Andrew for Stewart (79), D Shanahan for Cooney (79), J Flannery for L Marshall (79).
Tries: Lyttle (29), Stewart (44, 53)
Conversions: Cooney (45, 54)
Penalties: Cooney (72)
Yellow Cards: Jones (77)
Referee: Mr Frank Murphy (IRFU)