Ulster lose final game
from BBC
The Scarlets romped to a comfortable win over Ulster to end a difficult Magners League season on a high note.
Dan Evans, Dominic Day and Lee Williams crossed for first-half tries, with Darren Daniel, Martin Roberts and David Lyons adding to the Welsh side's tally.
Rhys Priestland kicked 13 points in a fine all-round display at fly-half.
Ulster produced two incisive moments as Paul Marshall and Darren Cave scored tries, but it could not prevent the Scarlets overtaking them in the table.
Having ensured their place in the Heineken Cup next season with victory at Cardiff Blues on Wednesday, the pressure was off the Scarlets and they gave themselves the perfect start within two minutes.
Full-back Evans took Roberts' flat and hard pass coming into the line and, spotting space in behind the Ulster line, chipped through and followed up to score.
Priestland, carrying on at fly-half with Lions pick Stephen Jones safely watching from the stands, converted and was on target with a penalty soon after.
Niall O'Connor got Ulster on the board with a fine drop-kick, sending a steepling kick over from 10 metres into the Scarlets half, having spotted that he had few options left or right.
But from the restart the Scarlets hit back immediately and, after thumping runs from Ken Owens and Lou Reed, lock Day powered through to just make the line under a pile of Ulster tacklers, Priestland again converting.
Amazingly given the Scarlets' lacklustre season, a third try arrived in the 21st minute as scrum-half Roberts arced through a gap and then timed his pass to perfection to send wing Williams in at the corner.
It capped a fine week for Wales Sevens star Williams, who grabbed two tries and set up another at Cardiff Arms Park in midweek for the crucial win that condemned the rival Dragons to a Heineken play-off in Italy.
Ulster caught the end-of-term spirit of adventure as well and moved confidently into the Scarlets' 22, before scrum-half Marshall dummied from the base of a ruck and nipped under the posts.
Priestland had a chance to stretch the Scarlet's lead before half-time but was wide with a long-range penalty, although a 22-10 lead at the break was still comfortable.
Scarlets started the second period the way they had the first, as Iestyn Thomas did the finest impression of a three-quarter by a prop this season - throwing an outrageous dummy and sprinting through to send Daniel over.
Ulster lost back-row Robbie Diack to the sin-bin and the numbers soon told, Daniel taking three defenders with him down the right wing.
The wing's overhead pass found Nick Reynolds inside, who in turn sent Roberts over for another seven-pointer.
Former Australia back-row Lyons added extra gloss to the score with five minutes to go, just reward for the Scarlets captain's powerful display.
Ulster had the last word, centre Cave interchanging well with his wing Timoci Nagusa to reach over.
But it could not prevent Scarlets ending with the bragging rights as they jumped above Ulster in the final Magners table.
Scarlets: Daniel Evans; Darren Daniel, Nick Reynolds, Rob Higgitt, Lee Williams; Rhys Priestland, Martin Roberts; Iestyn Thomas, Ken Owens, Kees Meeuws, Lou Reed, Dominic Day, Rob McCusker, Johnathan Edwards, David Lyons (capt).
Replacements: Phil John for Meeuws (22), Emyr Phillips for Owen (77), Aaron Shingler for Reed (57), Simon Easterby for Edwards (51), Josh Turnbull for McCusker (51), Gareth Davies for M. Roberts (77), Ceiron Thomas for Higgitt (70).
Ulster: Isaac Boss; Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Ian Whitten, Simon Danielli; Niall O'Connor, Paul Marshall; Bryan Young, Nigel Brady (capt), Declan Fitzpatrick, Ed O'Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Matt McCullough, Chris Henry, Robbie Diack.
Replacements: Neil Hanna for D. Fitzpatrick (69), Justin Fitzpatrick for Young (57), Carlo Del Fava for O'Donoghue (41), David Pollock for Henry (41), Ian Humphreys for O'Connor (52), Mark McCrea for Danielli (64), Clinton Schifcofske.
Referee: Neil Paterson (SRFU)
