Ulster keep play-off bid alive with a massive win
ULSTER stayed in the race to make the Guinness PRO14 playoffs by claiming a 36-15 bonus point victory over Glasgow at the Kingspan Stadium in their last regulation season home game, and as Tommy Bowe and Paul Marshall retired.
John Cooney put Ulster — who were missing Iain Henderson due to the birth of his first child — in an early lead with a fourth minute penalty after Tim Swinson failed to release in a tackle.
Cooney then went under the posts before he converted his 12th minute score to put Ulster 10-0 up.
The home side then lost Jean Deysel to injury and, almost immediately, the Warriors had their first points through an 18th minute Finn Russell penalty.
Three minutes later and they were over the line after Fraser Brown had burst through Andy Warwick to set up Callum Gibbins who got in under the posts allowing Russell to convert and tie the scores at 10-10.
Cooney kicked his second penalty after Glasgow strayed offside and put Ulster 13-10 up in the final minute of the half.
Ulster were awarded another penalty in injury time which saw the Irish province lead 16-10 at the break.
This lead was cut seven minutes into the new half to just 16-15.
But, in the 54th minute, Ulster scored their second try when Timoney shrugged off two tacklers following some good approach work by Stockdale and McCloskey.
Johnny McPhillips landed a great conversion and the home side were eight points clear.
Then they came again and on the hour Reidy pirouetted through two tacklers to dot down after Ulster had stretched the Warriors on both flanks.
McPhillips missed the conversion though but Ulster now led 28-15 and when Luke Marshall was held back in the 68th minute, McPhillips stepped up and made it 31-15. Then, deep into injury time, Timoney drove over with Angus Curtis missing the extras.