Ulster (18) 26
Tries: Cave, Danielli, Pollock Con: Humphreys Pens: Humphreys 3

Scarlets (6) 16
Tries: C Thomas Con: S Jones Pens: S Jones 3

By Richard Petrie

Darren Cave evades Ceiron Thomas to score Ulster's first try

Ulster secured their first-ever victory over Scarlets in the Heineken Cup with a comfortable 26-16 win at Ravenhill.

Darren Cave and Simon Danielli scored first-half tries with Ian Humphreys kicking two penalties and a conversion to two penalties by Stephen Jones.

Jones reduced the deficit to 18-9 with a penalty but Humphreys replied and then David Pollock crossed the Scarlets line to make it 26-9 to the home side.

Ceiron Thomas scored a late consolation try which Jones converted.

Ulster were forced to make a late change to their starting line-up with Paul Steinmetz replacing Paddy Wallace who was pulled out of the team on medical advice.

Humphreys opened the scoring with a sixth-minute penalty but Jones responded after an Ulster infringement four minutes later.

Humphreys chipped the ball over the Scarlets defence for Cave to win a race for the ball and touch down for a try after 25 minutes.

The Ulster fly-half converted before Jones kicked his second penalty of the match to keep the Scarlets in touch.

Danielli executed a fine sidestep and dummy pass to run over for his sixth Heineken Cup try on 33 minutes, Humphreys skewing the conversion attempt wide.

Pollock was then stopped just short of the line when he could have passed to supporting team-mates and Humphreys was off-target with a penalty effort.

A penalty in the dying seconds of the first period gave the Irish province a healthy 12-point advantage at the interval.

Jones knocked over a penalty after obstruction by Cillian Willis six minutes after the restart but missed with his next kick at goal, a big let-off for Ulster.

A Humphreys long-range penalty from just inside the Scarlets half gave his side some breathing space and then in the 63rd minute replacement scrum-half Isaac Boss offloaded for Pollock to sprint over the line.

Humphreys hit the post with the conversion kick and then replacement Mark McCrea was sin-binned two minutes after coming onto the field, having taken out Morgan Stoddart in mid-air.

The Scarlets were outplayed and outfought throughout and a late Thomas try, which Jones converted, gave the scoreline a flattering look.

Ulster's failure to score a fourth try and secure a bonus point should end any lingering hopes of qualification for the quarter-finals.

Ulster: Cunningham; Danielli, Cave, Steinmetz, Trimble; Humphreys, Willis; Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), Botha, O'Donoghue, Caldwell, Ferris, Pollock, Diack.
Replacements: Brady, Court (for Fitzpatrick 52), McCullough (for Ferris 69), Dawson (for Pollock 67), Boss (for Willis 52), O'Connor (for Humphreys 72), McCrea (for Steinmetz 69).

Scarlets: Stoddart; C Thomas, King, J Davies, M Jones; S Jones, Roberts; I Thomas, Rees, Manu, Cooper, Day, D Jones, Easterby (capt), Lyons.
Replacements: Owen (for Rees 57), John (for I Thomas 67), N Thomas, Edwards (for D Jones 71), Cattle (for Roberts 71), Priestland, L Williams (for Stoddart 75).

Attendance: 10,000

Referee: Andrew Small (RFU).

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