Scarlets overtake Ulster

PRO14 REPORT: Scarlets kept the heat on in Conference B as Tom Prydie’s second-half try helped earn a bonus-point 29-12 win to overtake Ulster.

The Irish province came into the match a point above in the Conference and got the first score through Dave Shanahan before Werner Kruger struck back for Scarlets.

Kieran Hardy and Kieron Fonotia both touched down before the break and Prydie got a fourth on the hour-mark, effectively sealing the result.

Jonny Stewart got one back for Ulster late on but the west Walians move up to second in the Conference and now have top side Leinster in their sights.

With Scarlets missing a number of players on international duty Ulster may have fancied their chances of grabbing an away win in Wales and scored a lovely early try through Shanahan, with Henry Speight breaking away down the left.

The Welsh region wasn’t on their haunches for long though and after Dan Jones had struck a penalty on 19 minutes Kruger bulldozed over from short distance to take the lead.

Ten minutes later more power work from the forwards opened up a gap for a smaller man and scrum-half Hardy stole in at the tryline.

Better was to come for the home fans before the break as No.8 Uzair Cassiem took a scything line at pace and burst into the 22, the ball then being passed out to centre Fonotia who delightfully stepped his way to the line.

Leading 22-7 at the interval the hosts sensed a fourth try and piled on the pressure early in the second period but couldn’t deliver the telling blow.

After 20 minutes of frustration though, the breakthrough was found, a spell of pressure resulting in space out on the right and allowing wing Prydie to piledrive his way through the last tackle and into the corner.

Jones kicked the conversion and Ulster came again, a driving maul eventually seeing space created for replacement Jonny Stewart to get his side’s second try from short distance.

The men from Belfast fought hard for a third for the final ten minutes, but Scarlets held out to move up to 29 points after their sixth win of the season.

The scorers:

For Scarlets:
Tries: Kruger, Hardy, Fonotia, Prydie
Cons: Jones 3
Pen: Jones

For Ulster:
Tries: Shanahan, Stewart
Con: Davies

The teams:

Scarlets: 15 Johnny McNicholl, 14 Tom Prydie, 13 Kieron Fonotia, 12 Paul Asquith, 11 Ioan Nicholas, 10 Dan Jones, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Uzair Cassiem, 7 Will Boyde (captain), 6 Ed Kennedy, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Steve Cummins, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Marc Jones, 1 Phil Price.
Replacements: 16 Daf Hughes, 17 Dylan Evans, 18 Simon Gardiner, 19 Lewis Rawlins, 20 Dan Davis, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Clayton Blommetjies, 23 Morgan Williams.

Ulster: 15 Michael Lowry, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 James Hume, 11 Henry Speight, 10 Billy Burns, 9 David Shanahan, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O’Connor (captain), 3 Marty Moore, 2 Adam McBurney, 1 Eric O’Sullivan.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andy Warwick, 18 Tom O’Toole, 19 Ian Nagle, 20 Greg Jones, 21 Jonny Stewart, 22 Darren Cave, 23 Angus Kernohan.

Referee: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Gwyn Morris, Aled Evans (both Wales)
TMO: Tim Hayes (Wales)

Source: @PRO14Official

.@scarlets_rugby are up to second in Conference B 🙌

Find out how they got there in our match report 👉 https://t.co/IkBqdL8cbz#GUINNESSPRO14 #SCAvULS pic.twitter.com/Q69bDPD674

— PRO14 RUGBY (@PRO14Official) November 23, 2018