[tag=image]data:image/jpeg;base64,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[/tag][tag=content]Ulster secured their place in the Guinness Pro12 playoffs with a heated but enthralling 26-10 victory over interprovincial rivals Leinster at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night.
Tries from man of the match Iain Henderson and Craig Gilroy were the difference between the two teams, while Ruan Pienaar added 16 points from the boot for the hosts, who move up to top spot temporarily.
Leinster scored all of their points in the first eight minutes through a Ben Te’o try and a Jimmy Gopperth penalty, however they were clearly second best and are unlikely to make the play-offs after this defeat.
The game also had its share of controversy when Sean O’Brien tip tackled Henderson in the first half and, despite the Kingspan crowd’s pleas, the Ireland flanker escaped with just a yellow.
If Leinster were supposed to be tired from their trip to Marseilles, it didn’t show early on as they sprung out of the traps and took an early lead through a Jimmy Gopperth penalty.
That start was improved upon almost immediately when Ben Te’o showed that rugby league and union do mix by picking a superb line and breezing through the Ulster defence for Leinster’s opening try after just eight minutes.
10-0 down with only a small portion of the game gone, you would have forgiven Ulster for being a bit shell-shocked, but the home side rallied well and forced a penalty in the tenth minute which just dropped short.
That didn’t matter though as five minutes later Iain Henderson ran just as good a line as Te’o did to find a gaping hole in the Leinster defence to notch a seven-pointer of his own.
Pienaar levelled the scores at 10-apiece with his first successful penalty of the evening before O’Brien dropped Henderson from a height, sparking an angry and raucous response from the Ulster crowd.
It did look like O’Brien threw the flanker to the floor, but referee John Lacey opted for a yellow card rather than a red, much to the dismay of the crowd.
Despite being a man up Ulster couldn’t take advantage as Leinster’s defence held out magnificently, only for Pienaar to slot a second penalty to give Ulster their first lead of the game almost as soon as O’Brien returned to the field.
The second half was an extremely cagey affair with Ulster marginally on top, but Leinster were able to keep their hosts at bay every time they assaulted the visitors’ 22 and the score remained 13-10.
The hosts came the closest to opening the second half scoring when a crossfield kick nearly found Craig Gilroy in the corner, however after consulting with the TMO it was correctly ruled that the winger had put a foot in the dead ball area.
Ulster were not to be denied though and after Rob Kearney had seen yellow for deliberately slowing the ball down on the Leinster try line, Pienaar was on hand to put Ulster 16-10 ahead after 64 minutes.
He quickly put another one over before the decisive score came with just under ten minutes to play – with one less man the gap appeared in the Leinster defensive line and a reverse pass from Paddy Jackson set top scorer Gilroy over for the winning score.
Pienaar added the extras to make it 26-10 and put the result beyond any doubt.
There was still time for Leinster to launch a frantic attack on the Ulster 22, but their efforts were in vain as, even after having substitute prop Andrew Warwick sin-binned, Ulster held out and booked their place in the Pro12 final four.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Henderson, Gilroy
Cons: Pienaar (2)
Pens: Pienaar (4)
For Leinster
Try: Te’o
Con: Gopperth
Pen: Gopperth
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Louis Ludik, Tommy Bowe, Jared Payne, Darren Cave (Stuart McCloskey 51), Craig Gilroy, Paddy Jackson, Ruan Pienaar; (1-8) Callum Black (Andrew Warwick 70), Rory Best (Rob Herring 68), Wiehahn Herbst (Bronson Ross 70), Dan Tuohy (Robbie Diack 65), Franco van der Merwe, Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson.
Subs not used: Clive Ross, Paul Marshall, Ian Humphreys.
Yellow card: Andrew Warwick (78)
LEINSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Rob Kearney, Zane Kirchner, Ben Te’o, Gordon D’Arcy (Ian Madigan 64), Luke Fitzgerald, Jimmy Gopperth, Isaac Boss (Eoin Reddan 64); (1-8) Cian Healy (Jack McGrath 58), Richardt Strauss (Sean Cronin 58), Mike Ross (Tadhg Furlong 64), Devin Toner, Mike McCarthy (Ben Marshall 67), Dominic Ryan (Jordi Murphy 51), Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.
Sub not used: Darragh Fanning.
Yellow card: Sean O’Brien (20), Rob Kearney (63)
Man of the Match: Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Attendance: 17,097
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 26-10 Leinster Rugby
Moderator: Moderators