Ulster Earn Valuable Bonus Point

RABODirect PRO12: Ulster 30 Newport Gwent Dragons 12

Ulster played right to the final whistle against the Newport Gwent Dragons, sealing a hard-earned bonus point in the dying seconds to move up to fifth place in the RaboDirect PRO12.

Stefan Terblanche's last-gasp try added to earlier scores from Robbie Diack, Ruan Pienaar and Craig Gilroy to secure the bonus point and stamp out any threat from the Dragons, who enjoyed plenty of possession but lacked real penetration.

The result saw Brian McLaughlin's men register their third try-scoring bonus point in consecutive league matches, moving them to within two points of fourth-placed Munster.

Poor positional judgement straight from the Dragons' kick-off put Ulster under immediate pressure, but Ian Humphreys' third-minute interception of a hopeful Welsh pass rapidly switched defence to attack.

All on his own and outnumbered, however, the out-half had little option but to kick and chase, and his punt forward rolled out of play on the left wing before he had the chance to reclaim it.

As possession swung back in the Dragons' favour, their out-half Jason Tovey capitalised on an Ulster infringement to kick his side into the lead after seven minutes.

Pienaar spurned the chance to equalise from the Dragons' ten-metre line moments later, but Ulster went one better in the 13th minute, Diack showing terrific handling skills as he collected and juggled Andi Kyriacou's short lineout before powering his way over in the right corner.

Pienaar narrowly missed the conversion but did more than enough to atone on the quarter hour mark as he finished off a stunning team try which saw swift passing from Gilroy, Mike McComish and Adam D'Arcy completely outfox the Dragons' defence. Pienaar converted his own score to extend the lead to 12-3.

Tovey kept the visitors in touch with a second penalty in the 24th minute, but with Ulster winning the restart thanks to fine anticipation from Nevin Spence, a third home try looked on the cards until Humphreys overcooked his kick into the corner, and the Dragons gratefully cleared their lines.

Tovey then punished another Ulster indiscretion just before the half hour but, with the Dragons again flailing at the restart, Pienaar stroked over a central penalty to restore an advantage of six points which endured until the break.

The Dragons started the second period with much more of the ball and the impetus to chase the game, but threatened little and were undone in the 45th minute with a crossing offence.

To their credit, however, Darren Edwards' side won possession right back from the Ulster lineout deep in their territory, and probed away on the Ulster 22 until another infringement gave Tovey the chance to slot home penalty number four.

Once more, however, the Dragons struggled to collect the restart, with the home forwards putting the cat amongst the pigeons as Pienaar's kick dropped invitingly, creating enough confusion to allow an Ulster hand to grab possession and set up an immediate riposte.

Quick ball found Gilroy stationed on the right wing, and the prolific youngster had little trouble brushing away Martyn Thomas' challenge to add another Ravenhill try to his already impressive tally. Pienaar's conversion attempt was off target, but Ulster were still 20-12 to the good.

Despite a yellow card for Willie Faloon soon after, Ulster kept on the front foot and indeed looked the likelier to score during much of the flanker's exile.

Despite this, strong rucking from the visitors as the clock neared 70 minutes got them to within metres of the Ulster try-line, and only a concerted defensive effort kept them out.

With a further yellow card brandished - this time to Ian Whitten for illegally knocking the ball away at a ruck - Ulster had to temporarily shelve any thoughts of a potential bonus point, and make the victory itself secure first.

With this in mind, Pienaar was tasked with slotting a penalty from the 10-metre line and his crisply-struck effort duly sailed through the uprights.

This proved to be the right decision as, seconds from the restart, a Dragons fumble gifted possession to Ulster down the left wing, and the hosts had enough in the tank to make the necessary ground, recycle, and supply Terblanche, whose dive under the posts wrapped up the bonus point.

Pienaar's conversion was the last kick of an action-packed encounter, with the victorious Ulstermen climbing one rung closer to the play-off spot they are chasing hard.