The Boys are back in town

Just before half time and with the score 13:3 in favour of Llanelli you would not have given Ulster much chance for the second half not only because of the score but also because of the manner of their play. However some surging from the base of maul and scrum from Isaac Boss and an injection of pace that the Ravenhill faithful have been screaming for from Maxwell and all of a sudden Ulster had done the equivalent of Lazarus picking up his bed and walking right back into a game they had no right to contest. Unfortunately the win will paper over the lack lustre organisation in defence which was at times like the parting of the Red Sea and an attacking formation that was in the first very much at 6s and 7s racked with the guilt of indecision.

Yet Boss seemingly thrown off the shackles of inconsistency was the saviour and the creator of most things good about Ulster in the first half. His strength allowed him to break the gain line creating forward movement saving the match with a well timed pass to Maxwell who was twitching at every opportunity to use his searing pace and score the most important score of the Celtic season to drag the Ulstermen from the mire of their play and put Ulster back into contention after Llanelli had almost the game tied up. It was the boot of Barry Davies that opened the scoring from an incredible 60 yards early in the first to put the visitors into a 3 point lead before the ever dependable Steinmetz equalised. But you could not have written the script of this game poised at 3: 6. After another Davies penalty, Llanelli were reduced to 13 men and Ulster play was also suitably reduced to the ridiculous. Curiously it was not the Ulstermen to score next but Llanelli, scoring a well taken try and another penalty to put them in front 13:3 before Lazarus joined the ranks of Ulster and as against Welsh opposition before a remarkable turn around came about just when you thought the life was being sucked out of Ulster. Morale was visibly shaken, tackles were being missed and the defensive line was porous with organisation and shape, slow to impose itself. Allen Clarke was visibly moved in the stand and did not look a happy boy as his mortgage was obviously in jeopardy.

The first half also saw Stephen Ferris take the advice of Jim Neilly putting in big hits with determination and vigour. Ulster put in some good forward mauls but as so often before the Ravenhill faithful were treated to the usual bout of knockons and poor support play loose possession 70 meters and another 10 minutes before an Ulster player could get his mitts on the ball. Even with a 2 man advantage and the Llanelli line a-begging, the line out was secured and then the ball stolen for Llanelli to race to within 5 yards of scoring before Paul Steinmetz put in yet another match saving tackle to save the day, the game and probably the season. That was after Ferris started the move off with Bell playing a pivotal role linking passes with Topping and Boss. Such was the typicality of Ulster. Do the hard work and blow it with inaccurate play in some form or other.

The referee consistently proved to be inadequate, indecisive and a bit out of his depth frequently changing his mind, giving penalties and then changing his mind. He allowed Smith the Llanelli scum half the liberty of tackling Boss before the ball had come to Wilson in the scrum and when Boss returned the compliment he was thumped by the always-impressive Popham and the touch judge looked the other way. On the other hand he gave decisions that were just and fair and kept the game flowing reasonably well in what was his first senior game. He used his cards wisely if not well supported by his touch judges. He binned three Scarlets, lectured their entire front row, and marched them back 10 additional yards on 2 occasions. However on one occasion he binned the wrong player on the advice of his touch judge who only acted on the behest of the crowd. Daffyd Jones the Welsh International took the blame for kicking Matt McCullough on the ground, not his style, when the culprit was the very bulky Madden who should have been shown red as he was binned earlier. The suspicion of guilt was confirmed when the same player was substituted by the Scarlets and the crowd informed him of their feelings. It was an amusing aside of the Ulstermen and an undignified reaction from Afeaki who ought to be cited if he does not own up and the reputation of Jones unjustly tarnished.

The second half was quite an improvement on the first but still the defensive alignment was not all it ought to be and still the first time tackles were missed. Llanelli were always dangerous with ball in hand running well and Bowen in control launching his backs into danger areas, exploiting the games with accurate off loads. But the Ulster ship had steadied, their luck well and truly used up and it was a much more ruthless team that came out. Although still not effectively dealing with the kick offs yet again, nevertheless the intent to play the game in the opposition 22 was evident and it very quickly bore fruit with a couple of quick Steimetz penalties to put Ulster into the lead for the first time in the match 16:13. Another penalty after Wilson and the ever-marauding McMillan turned the ball over; saw the lead increase to 19:13 and the bonus was in danger of being lost to the Scarlets. But yet again Boss took the mediocre and turned it into the brilliant before Steinmetz once more converted to turn the screw on the Scarlets and make it 22:13. But the in form team from Wales were not for giving up, breaking from defence at every opportunity and punishing Ulster for their lapses in a manner that would normally have been fatal, but for some bullocking tackling by Justin Harrison who marshalled Dunlea the prop into touch and save the day.

However the name of the game for the visitors was catch up and Ulster were now exuberating a confidence they could only have dreamt of in the first period. At this point the referee penalised Llanelli for a crooked put in and was either atoning for his earlier sins as crooked feed is not penalised at this level or he had lost the plot. In his defence I would go for the former. As his intentions were always good, his experience lacking but gaining with every minute. The defensive alignments were improving and on one occasion in 3 phases Llanelli were pushed back 20 meters with ferocious tackling that resembled the intent of Neil Kelly. That is; turn defence into attack. It has gone wayward in recent weeks but that one was right on the money.

As f it had been scripted and as if the Ulster faithful had been rehearsing “I can Do Anything, You Can Do Better” Kieran Campbell entered the fray along with Tyrone Howe. A quick tap and he was off against a flagging opposition setting the ball to Larkin from a ruck for him to deftly kick into the corner and Tyrone Howe yet again gets in through the eye of a needle to score the final points of the evening leaving the final score 30:13 to Ulster scoring 27 points without reply. In itself an achievement against a side that put 42 points on Toulouse last week with 5 regulars missing and the incredibly abrasive Mr Neil Best only putting in a cameo appearance in the last 15. If could have been so very different but for the creativity of Boss and the hunger of Maxwell. It was good to see Justin Harrison take 2 lineout balls from a well-drilled Scarlets and make the foolish Maurice Field choke on his words that Harrison has done nothing for Ulster since his arrival. Piffle. Still, complacency should not set in, as there are areas that require vast improvement such as first time tackling, coupled with timely defensive alignments and the ability to turn those tackles into attacking opportunities. The next home game is against Munster who will arrive flying high in the league with a grudge to settle after Ulster beat them in Cork. It is going to be a cracker.

Ulster: Cunningham, Topping, Bell, Steinmetz, Maxwell, Larkin, Boss, J. Fitzpatrick, Brady, B. Young, Harrison, McCullough, Ferris, McMillan, Wilson.
Replacements: Shields, Moore, Frost, N. Best, Campbell, Wallace, Howe.

Llanelli Scarlets: B. Davies, Ferry, D. James, King, G. Evans, Bowen, Stuart-Smith, Dunlea, Rees, Madden, Afeaki, Louw, D. Jones, G. Thomas, A. Popham.
Replacements: J. Davies, Gravelle, Cooper, Quinnell, L. Davies, Hercus, G. Evans.

Referee: P Allan (SRFU).