Scarlets sail past Ulster

Scarlets put a huge dent in Ulster's Magners League play-off hopes after claiming a morale-boosting 25-8 victory on Friday night.

Rhys Priestland, Tavis Knoyle and Andy Fenby all crossed as the Welsh strugglers picked up only their fourth league victory of the season at Parc y Scarlets.

The defeat for Ulster, who only had a Paddy Wallace try and Ian Humphreys penalty to show for their efforts, keeps the Irish province in sixth spot, five points adrift of fourth-placed Munster.

Scarlets are now just two points behind Cardiff Blues in ninth place, but remain in danger of not qualifying for the Heineken Cup as they are presently the lowest placed Welsh side in the league.

Scarlets boss Nigel Davies labelled the match a "must-win" fixture ahead of kick-off, and his players responded after just three minutes.

Nigerian-born wing Joe Ajuwa went close down the right, and when the ball was spread left fellow wing Fenby went over unopposed.

In an entertaining first half the visitors did have their chances. Flanker Dan Tuohy had a try disallowed and fly-half Humphreys missed a drop-goal.

Inspire

But it was the Scarlets, desperate to climb the Magners table, who scored a second try on 20 minutes when number eight David Lyons put scrum-half Knoyle on a 40-metre run to the line.

Scarlets continued to dominate both possession and territory, however Humphreys kicked a long-range penalty in first-half injury-time to reduce the lead at the break to 15-3.

Ulster made their intentions known at the start of the second half, scoring a try in the first 86 seconds when Ireland international Wallace crashed over after a break by Isaac Boss.

But, just as the Scarlets feared a sustained Ulster comeback, flanker David Pollock was shown a yellow card for killing the ball in front of his posts, allowing Priestland to convert a penalty which put the hosts 18-8 ahead.

Lions hooker Matthew Rees came on for the last half an hour to test the groin injury which has so far kept him out of Wales' RBS Six Nations campaign.

And he helped inspire his team to a try, finished off by the impressive Priestland, on the hour mark.

Scarlets continued to dominate late on, but were unable to create another chance and missed out on the bonus point.