Ulster bounced back from their defeat at Thomond to win their top-of-the-table clash handily, writes Kristian Ross
Ulster Rugby got back to winning ways in the RaboPRO12 as they emphatically hammered second place Scarlets at Ravenhill.
Ulster who started 2013 on the back of a defeat vs Munster were looking to extend the gap in the PRO12 to give themselves a very comfortable gap at the summit of the table. However Ulster didn't have the best of starts, Scarlets pressing early and Aled Thomas put the Welsh region ahead with the boot.
But pressure from the home side saw a penalty awarded and Ruan Pienaar levelled the scores with a penalty on what was his 50th appearance for the province. And a few minutes later Ulster again were given a chance to kick after an infringement at the ruck, allowing Pienaar to kick Ulster ahead with seven minutes remaining before half time.
And yet again Scarlets were penalised, this time for dissent and Pienaar was allowed to extend the advantage to six points before half time.
As the second half began the Scarlets knew that a gap of six points could be easily overturned, but that became even harder, a good flowing Ulster move via a lineout saw Robbie Diack crash over for a try from a Rob Herring pass to give Ulster a good advantage, which was made even better when Pienaar chipped over to give the men in white a 16-3 lead.
With the Scarlets now firmly up against it, they didn't help their cause, again lack of discipline allowed the Ulster Springbok to fire Ulster even further in front.
And then came then Nick Williams. A scrum, then a quick tap and go, and as always the big man from New Zealand was impossible to stop, scoring Ulster's third of the night and pushing Ulster well towards the finish line as Pienaar converted again.
The game then took a bad turn when George North was stretchered off following a bad injury to the neck, and the respite gave the Scarlets some inspiration as Josh Turnbull managed to get the Scarlets their first try with thirteen minutes to go, and it was converted well by Aled Thomas.
But Ulster were not finished and sniffing a chance of even more points they were out for blood. And it came to fruition when a splendid move from yet another line out saw Andrew Trimble break away and he was left unchallenged to score yet another try this season that was converted by unusually converted by Darren Cave.
Rather quickly the Scarlets started to fall to bits, another great passage of play for the Ulster saw Lewis Stephenson robbed of his first try, but Leighton Hodges adjudged the try would have been scored if not a retreating player had grabbed the ball and he went under the posts to give Ulster the penalty score and Paddy Jackson added the extras as Ulster moved thirty points clear as Aled Thomas was binned. And just to add insult to injury Ulster pushed forward again and Neil McComb reached over the line following a messy ruck to make the scoreline look very pretty indeed in Ulster's favour.
The Scarlets had been well and truly put to the sword, but did have one last flurry, leaky Ulster defence saw Scott Williams grab a late consolation for the Welsh side, as the referee blew the whistle. Ulster had started the new year with an explosion of pace, tries, kicking and good rugby. Second place Scarlets not a problem. The Ulstermen dismantling them as the push for first continued.
Looking forward to next few week, Ulster will take massive strength from this result, Heineken Cup games vs Glasgow and Castres are going to be crucial, but if the Ulstermen played like they did with fewer mistakes over the next matches, they should come away comfortable winners.
Injuries are starting to take their toll, Adam D'Arcy to name one, but players have been missing at various stages of the season and Mark Anscombe has seemingly drafted other names in to the fill the void, and it has worked. Anscombe will also be hoping to get Jared Payne back asap.
In all, Ulster destroyed the Scarlets, another fantastic result against a Welsh side, unbeaten against the regions this season. This is a side that looks like they should get at least one try this season. Rugby is a funny old game. At times it can be messy, but every week, Ulster make it look so simple. Roll on Glasgow... And as always, Stand Up For The Ulstermen.
I'm Kristian. 18. And my mind is filled with rugby shaped thoughts. Supporting Ulster Rugby, Newcastle Falcons and of course the mighty Ireland. Tommy Bowe is the MAN !!!! SUFTUM.
