PRO14: Ulster 27-20 Scarlets

Substitute John Andrew scored a late winning try as Ulster beat the Scarlets 27-20 in the PRO14.

The game took place on the 5th year anniversary of the death of Nevin Spence and his father and brother, and a minute's silence was held prior to kickoff.

It took until the latter stages for the game to open up, as a series of handling errors meant the 2 sides exchanged penalties in a frustrating first half.

The PRO12 champions had taken a 4th minute lead through the boot of Leigh Halfpenny who slotted a penalty.

It took another 14 minutes for Ulster to reply with John Cooney's first penalty of the night to level things at 3-3.

Just after the half hour mark, Ulster went ahead with the scrum half slotting another kick, and he extended their lead to 9-3 with 6 minutes left in the opening period.

12 minutes after the break, Cooney kept the scoreboard ticking over with another kicked penalty to move Ulster 12-3 ahead.

But the Scarlets were able to take advantage of more clumsy Ulster defending in the 58th minute with Halfpenny sending over another routine penalty.

In the 61st minute, Ulster's defence was carved open far too easily.

Scarlets out-half Rhys Patchell collected an offload just outside the 22, and he found Jonny McNicholl in acres of space wide on the right.

The winger was unopposed as he raced clear to score in the corner, and Halfpenny added the extras to turn the game on its head and nudge the Welsh 1 point ahead.

However, Ulster replied almost instantly through Jacob Stockdale.

The province counter attacked down the left and Sean Reidy was able to get his head up and offload infield to Stockdale who finished well in the left hand corner.

The game continued in this back and forth manner, and in the 68th minutes, the Scarlets retook the lead.

Steffan Evans was sent clear down the left and used his pace to eat up several yards before drawing his man and offloading to Jonathan Davies who was able to finish close to the posts to leave Halfpenny with an easy conversion.

It means the Scarlets were ahead by 3 points going into the final ten minutes, but in the 73rd, Christian Lealifano levelled things at 20-all with a penalty.

With just 3 minutes left to play, Ulster quickly countered and caught the Welsh cold, leaving sub hooker John Andrew in space to score a decisive late try and secure the win.