In an exhilarating showdown, the Scarlets triumphed over Ulster with a final score of 27-22 in the United Rugby Championship, thanks to a last-minute try by Ellis Mee. This victory is particularly significant for the Scarlets, as it marks their first win against the Irish side since November 2018, pulling them off the bottom of the URC standings.
The match started strong for the Scarlets when Blair Murray crossed the line for an early try, setting a positive tone in Llanelli. However, Ulster quickly responded with tries from Tom Stewart and Bryn Ward, momentarily taking control of the game. Yet, just before halftime, Josh Macleod's determined effort put the Scarlets back in the lead.
In the second half, Ulster dominated the field, with Scott Wilson breaking through the Scarlets' defense to score. A late penalty by Sam Costelow seemed to give the Scarlets the edge, but Nathan Doak matched his efforts almost immediately, keeping the game tight.
As the clock wound down, it appeared Ulster would claim their ninth consecutive victory over the Scarlets. But in a dramatic twist, Mee broke away during the final moments, sprinting 50 meters to score a sensational try that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
This win was crucial for the Scarlets, marking their third victory of the season, allowing them to surpass Zebre in the rankings. Meanwhile, Ulster remained firmly in fourth place.
The match featured significant moments, including Eddie James’ impactful tackle on Ulster's full-back Mike Lowry within the first minute, signaling the Scarlets' intent. The opening try resulted from an effective driving maul, which allowed Murray to slip through the defenders.
Ulster’s response was swift; Stewart's try showcased their own driving power, and Ward followed suit with a similar play shortly after. Doak’s successful conversion gave Ulster a brief lead, but the Scarlets reclaimed it with a well-executed tap penalty resulting in Macleod scoring just before halftime.
The second half saw Scarlets struggling defensively, especially with the loss of Murray due to injury, raising concerns for Wales coach Steve Tandy ahead of the upcoming Six Nations. Things worsened for Scarlets when Taine Plumtree received a yellow card for repeated penalties, creating space for Wilson to score and seemingly secure the win for Ulster.
Costelow came close to sealing the deal with a long-range penalty kick, but Ulster quickly answered back with Doak's conversion. With only minutes left and trailing by two points, Johnny Williams made a thrilling break that energized the crowd, leading to a yellow card for Werner Kok following a high tackle.
In a nail-biting finish, Costelow delivered a precise pass to Mee, who skillfully evaded a final tackle and dove over the line, clinching a memorable win for the Scarlets.
Scarlets Lineup:
Murray; Rogers, James, Hawkins, Mee; Costelow, A Hughes; Mathias, Elias, Holz, Lousi, Cuckson, Plumtree, Macleod (capt), Anderson.
Replacements: Van der Merwe, Morse, H O'Connor, Price, J Taylor, Blacker, J Williams, Page.
Ulster Lineup:
Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Bell, Stewart, O'Toole, Henderson (capt), Irvine, McCann, Timoney, Ward.
Replacements: Herring, O'Sullivan, Wilson, Sheridan, Dalton, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.
Match Officials:
Referee: Griffin Colby (South Africa)
Assistants: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Carwyn Sion (Wales)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Sin Bin: Plumtree, Kok.
