John Barclay scored the only try of the match as the Scarlets got back to winning ways on home soil with a 17-9 RaboDirect PRO12 victory over Ulster. Barclay, who started on the replacements bench but entered the fray after just 14 minutes, dived over just after the half-hour mark as the Scarlets built an 11-3 lead. Ruan Pienaar kicked Ulster to within five points soon into the second half but with Aled Thomas also coming off the bench to kick three penalties in total, the Scarlets exacted revenge for last season’s RaboDirect PRO12 semi-final defeat. It was a second home win of the season for the Scarlets, who needed Rhys Priestland’s last-gasp penalty to salvage a draw last time out away to Zebre. Simon Easterby was without seven of his squad, away on international duty, and it was the visitors who broke the deadlock on nine minutes, South African Pienaar nailing his first penalty attempt in difficult conditions at Parc y Scarlets. The hosts responded well however and Steven Shingler levelled things up on 23 minutes after a period of concerted pressure from the hosts brought a penalty in front of the posts. And the Scarlets continued to build momentum as the half wore on and moved into a five-point lead when Barclay, on as a replacement for Aaron Shingler, finished off an impressive move in the corner. Steven Shingler missed the conversion but Scarlets continued to attack in waves and only some desperate Ulster defence denied Easterby’s side another try. They did however extend their lead before the break when Thomas, on for Steven Shingler, added a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Ulster, rattled at the break, began the second half the brighter and Pienaar was handed the chance to trim the deficit just three minutes after half-time, but he was off target from the tee. Two minutes later however, he nailed another penalty after the Scarlets were adjudged to be offside, bringing Ulster back to within touching distance. With the rain sheeting down, a kicking duel ensued with neither side able to string many phases together. On 64 minutes however, Ulster replacement David McIlwaine was sent to the sin bin as Gareth Davies attempted to streak clear for the hosts. Thomas bisected the posts to make it 14-6 to the hosts, but Pienaar responded with his third penalty of the night after the Scarlets infringed at the scrum on 69 minutes to set up a tense finish. But Pienaar then missed a straightforward kick from in front of the posts before Roger Wilson was sent to the sin bin on 74 minutes, and when Thomas slotted the subsequent penalty, the Scarlets able to see out the win. Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the RaboDirect PRO12
