Ulster Triumphs in Thrilling Last-Minute Victory Over Scarlets

In a nail-biting encounter at Kingspan Stadium, Ulster managed to snatch a 30-28 victory over Scarlets in the United Rugby Championship (URC). This thrilling match was decided in the dying moments when Alan O'Connor scored a crucial try in the 79th minute, followed by Nathan Doak's successful conversion.

Early Setbacks for Ulster

Ulster, who had been struggling with three consecutive home defeats, faced an uphill battle early in the game. Scarlets took a commanding 12-0 lead within the first 11 minutes, thanks to tries by Macs Page and Ioan Nicholas.

Ulster's Fightback

Ulster began to rally after Scarlets were penalized for a ruck infringement. Nick Timoney capitalized on a powerful maul to score Ulster's first try. Jack Murphy then added a penalty to reduce the deficit. Just before halftime, Murphy's long-range penalty put Ulster ahead for the first time, but Scarlets' Ioan Lloyd quickly responded with a penalty of his own, giving Scarlets a 15-13 lead at the break.

Second Half Drama

The second half saw both teams exchange penalties, but Ulster's Callum Reid scored a close-range try to edge his team ahead once more. Scarlets regained the lead through Vaea Fifita's try, but their inability to convert a crucial late opportunity proved costly. In the final moments, O'Connor's try and Doak's conversion sealed the victory for Ulster.

Key Performances

Alan O'Connor: The Ulster captain scored the decisive try in the 79th minute.
Jack Murphy: Kicked 13 points, including three penalties and two conversions.
Vaea Fifita: Scored a pivotal try for Scarlets.

What This Means

This win lifts Ulster to 12th in the URC table, while Scarlets remain outside the playoff spots. The victory was crucial for Ulster's morale and their chances in the league.

Teams

Ulster: Moore; Lowry, Hume, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, McKee; Reid, Herring, Wilson, O'Connor (capt), Dalton, Matty Rea, Timoney, McNabney.

Scarlets: Nicholas; Page, Roberts, Williams, Lewis; Lloyd, Davies; Hepburn, Elias (capt), Wainwright, Craig, Lousi, Douglas, Davis, Taylor.

Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Conclusion

This match was a testament to the unpredictability and excitement of rugby, with Ulster's resilience and determination ultimately paying off in the final moments.