**Dan McFarland’s Ulster made it five wins from seven in Conference A with a bonus point hammering of Scarlets at Kingspan Stadium.** The Belfast-based side had their four tries within half an hour thanks to scores from Matt Faddes, John Cooney, Matty Rea and Rob Baloucoune, and managed to restrict their visitors to one try after the interval. Key moments Ulster came into this one charged up off the back of two impressive European wins and wasted no time in inflicting the first blow on their Welsh opponents with Faddes crossing after five minutes. First Baloucoune skipped away down the right before Stuart McCloskey chipped the ball through for Faddes to touch down. Minutes later it was the turn of Cooney, a man who can’t stop scoring at the moment, who delivered a muscular finish to dive over in the corner and somehow keep his feet infield. Next the forwards stepped up, with blindside flanker Rea driving over at the back of a maul inside 20 minutes – Baloucoune wrapping up the bonus point on 28 minutes. The hosts continued to pound the Scarlets line before the break but couldn’t get over, then after oranges momentum switched the other way, you suspect with Brad Mooar laying down the law at the interval. Fly-half Ryan Lamb came on to eye up a few gaps and Scarlets dominated territory for the third quarter, but McFarland has instilled a fighting attitude into his troops and the hosts defended as well as they’d attacked in the first 40. It took Scarlets 74 minutes to get on the board with replacement Jac Morgan delivering a lovely finish in the corner – one final riposte coming from Ulster as Faddes completed his double a minute from time. Man of the Match – Rob Baloucoune What an impact the lightning wing had on his first Guinness PRO14 start this season, touching down an amazing diving finish early on and displaying as much energy to his every action. The youngster only received the ball on nine occasions but made every one count, making three clean breaks, beating five defenders and sending out three offloads. Play of the Day The first half was a festival of cross-field kicks for Ulster, who went coast to coast to pull the Scarlets defence apart time after time. But it was the width on a pass that gets our play of the day award, with McCloskey spotting Baloucoune hugging the touchline wide on the right and fizzing one just over the fingertips of Steff Evans. Cardiff City Stadium will play host to the 2020 Guinness PRO14 Final on June 20 as one of the most exciting days in the club rugby calendar comes to Wales! General sale tickets are available from http://bit.ly/PRO14Cardiff2020 and prices start at just £13 for concessions and £26 for adults (subject to booking fees), that’s a 15% early bird discount. Family ticket (2 adults / 2 children) prices begin at £64 and fans are encouraged to buy early to get the best value tickets.
