Misfiring Scarlets pay heavy price

Ulster A ............ 24 Scarlets .......... 18

POOR goal kicking cost the Scarlets heavily in a tight cup opener as they missed three conversions and two penalties to throw away a chance of victory.

Those nine points could have made all the difference in a game in which they took the lead against the run of play with a 10th minute try from wing Tom Prydie and then went into a 10-point lead with a try in the corner from No.8 Jack Condy five minutes later.

Rhys Jones added a penalty at the end of the first quarter to extend the lead to 13-0, yet by the break the home side had not only forced their way back into the game, had moved into a 17-13 lead.

Scrum-half Aaron Cairns rounded off a great move that started with a break by No.8 Joe Dunleavy and skipper and tighthead Ross Kane.

Johnny McPhillips added the extras and then converted a try four minutes later from Dunleavy to take the lead. The home fly-half then kicked a 40 metre penalty to complete the first half turn-around.

It took 17 minutes before either side got another scoring chance, but Jack Maynard pushed two penalty attempts wide. Ulster then picked up a third try from Jack Owens, which McPhillips once again improved.

Scarlets lock Josh Helps ensured a losing bonus point with a try four minutes from time.