Ulster beat Scarlets in 7th straight win

Ulster 26-24 Scarlets

INPHO
Author: Alex KeeryPublished 22nd Nov 2020
Last updated 22nd Nov 2020

Ulster extended their winning start to the PRO14 season by beating Scarlets 26-24 to record their seventh consecutive victory in the competition.

Rob Lyttle, Stewart Moore, Sean Reidy and Kieran Treadwell scored the tries to secure a bonus point win in Belfast, with 1000 fans back at Kingspan in the largest crowd of the season.

The home side started well with Lyttle opening the scoring after just 8 minutes, collecting Matt Faddes' pass before side-stepping his marker to dive into the corner.

Treadwell was then shown a yellow card in the 16th minute for a high challenge, and Scarlets made an immediate use of their numbers with Asquith scoring and O'Brien converting.

The Welsh side were looking comfortable until the 33rd minute when Ulster center Moore ran in a stunning 70 metre intercept try, leaving John Cooney an easy kick to give them a 12-7 lead.

Reidy then crashed over from close range on the stroke of half time and Cooney added the extras to send Ulster in at the break with a 12 point advantage.

90 seconds into the second half, Scarlets narrowed the gap as Conbeer scored after a perfect cross-field kick, and Ulster were then reduced to 14 men for the second time in the game as Faddes was shown a yellow.

Again the visitors made the numbers count, this time Evans scored in the 55th minute, reducing the home lead to just 2 points.

However, Treadwell made amends for his card by smashing over from close range to score and secure the bonus point in the 65th minute, with Johnston's conversion giving Ulster a 9-point buffer.

Price scored late on for the visitors to set up a tense finish, but Ulster managed to hold on for the win.