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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Scarlets v Ulster, RaboDirect Pro12

Captain Johann Muller returned as Ulster took on Scarlets, with Ireland winger Craig Gilroy also featuring.

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Scarlets 12-19 Ulster (FT)

Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s liveblog. Here are the teams:

Scarlets: Dan Newton, Kristian Phillips, Gareth Maule, Gareth Owen, Andy Fenby, Aled Thomas, Gareth Davies, Phil John, Emyr Phillips, Jacobie Adriaanse, Johan Snyman, Richard Kelly, George Earle, Johnathan Edwards (capt), Kieran Murphy. Replacements: Kirby Myhill, Shaun Hopkins, Deacon Manu, Tomas Vallejos, Craig Price, Aled Davies, Adam Warren, Nick Reynolds.

Ulster: Peter Nelson; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall, Craig Gilroy; Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall; Callum Black, Rob Herring, John Afoa, Johann Muller (capt), Neil McComb, Iain Henderson, Robbie Diack, Roger Wilson. Replacements: Rory Best, Tom Court, Ricky Lutton, Dan Tuohy, Mike McComish, Michael Heaney, Niall O’Connor, Tommy Bowe.

So Ulster are boosted by the return of Johann Muller, while Rory Best, Tom Court, Tommy Bowe and Dan Tuohy are all on the bench.

Fresh from his star performance for Ireland Craig Gilroy starts, as do Paddy Jackson and Iain Henderson.

We’re underway…

The conditions are far from ideal for today’s game, so expect plenty of kicking and not much in the way of flowing rugby.

Aled Thomas has dragged his kick narrowly wide from about 40 yards out, after Ulster conceded a penalty.

It was always going to be ambitious from that distance.

“Struck it well,” says RTE commentator Hugh Cahill, as Paddy Jackson’s first penalty of the game goes narrowly wide.

A case of commentator’s curse in that instance, clearly.

Ulster 3-0 Scarlets: This time, Jackson makes no mistake with a kick straight in front of the posts, but from a good distance out (10 mins).

You get the feeling that this game could be won or lost in the respective performances of the two sides’ fly-halfs.

It’s been quite scrappy in the last few minutes, with both sides conceding possession all too easily, though that’s to be an expected to an extent, on a rainy day like today.

Ulster just about deserve their narrow lead, given that they’ve had the edge in terms of possession and territory.

Scarlets 3-3 Ulster: Wonderfully executed kick from the touchline by Aled Thomas to bring the sides level (18 mins).

That’s immediately followed by a sloppy knock-on from Roger Wilson.

Ulster have just made two basic errors, the latest being a knock-on from Paddy Jackson, giving the Welsh side possession deep inside the opposition territory.

However, a strong Ulster scrum later, and the Irish side clear their lines and relieve that brief spell of pressure.

TRY FOR ULSTER!

Ulster 10-3 Scarlets: Shocking play from Gareth Owen, as Scarlets are punished for trying to play rugby when it wasn’t on.

Owen’s attempt at a pass is intercepted by an alert Andrew Trimple, and the Irish international shows his pace to accelerate away from the chasing defenders and run in under the posts (28 mins).

Jackson then makes no mistake with a simple conversion.

Ulster 13-3 Scarlets: Ulster’s patent dominance up front again pays dividends, as Scarlets concede a penalty from their own scrum.

Jackson kicks another penalty in front of the posts (32 mins).

Cave knocks on poorly with Ulster in a promising position in the hosts’ 22.

Ulster are really dominating now though, and deserve their healthy lead.

HALF-TIME: SCARLETS 3-13 ULSTER

Ulster deservedly lead 13-3 at half-time, with their ability to adapt better to the conditions being integral to their success.

They may even rue not being further ahead, as they’ve had the better opportunities in that half.

Scarlets, meanwhile, are trying to play too much rugby in difficult conditions, and are being punished for their obvious inferiority in the scrum.

We’re underway and Tommy Bowe is on in place of Craig Gilroy for the second half.

Ulster 16-3 Scarlets: Paddy Jackson adds another penalty as Ulster continue where they left off in the first half (42 mins).

Thomas’ idiosyncratic kicking style has failed him in this instance, as he hits a penalty horribly to the right of the posts.

Scarlets 6-16 Ulster: Darren Cave is penalised for not rolling away, and Alud Thomas kicks over in less than convincing fashion.

That’s a reminder that Ulster still have some work to do if they seek to preserve their record as the only unbeaten side in Europe.

Scarlets 9-16 Ulster: Aled Thomas further narrows the lead with a penalty from a difficult angle (52 mins).

There has been a palpable drop in the intensity of Ulster’s play in the second half, though Scarlets have also upped their game considerably, to be fair.

I should have mentioned that Dan Tuohy came on for Johann Muller at half-time, while Tom Court has also been introduced, making an impact immediately as Ulster win a penalty from a scrum.

Ulster 19-9 Scarlets: Paddy Jackson slices his kick slightly, though it still goes over (56 mins).

Meanwhile, down the other end, Scarlets threaten, following a good break from Kieran Murphy, though a forward pass brings their attack to a halt.

Yellow card for Dan Tuohy for not rolling away. The referee has clearly got frustrated with Ulster repeating this offence on numerous occasions.

The subsequent kick from Aled Thomas goes woefully wide.

Ten minutes remain and Scarlets don’t look capable of capitalising on their man advantage.

The improved conditions mean the standard has improved in the second half, with both sides trying to play a bit more.

Dan Tuohy is back on for Ulster, who look like they’re going to see this game out comfortably.

It’s been another accomplished performance from the Irish side, who have performed well under difficult conditions.

Scarlets 12-19 Ulster: Thomas has a chance to give his side a losing bonus point with a last-gasp penalty and he takes full advantage (80 mins).

FULL-TIME: SCARLETS 12-19 ULSTER

So that’s 10 wins from 10 now, as far as Ulster’s league form is concerned.

Mark Anscombe’s team performed extremely well, given that they were playing away from home in difficult conditions against a good Scarlets side, not to mention the fact that they had numerous first-team players missing.

The visitors didn’t overly extend themselves in the second half, presumably with one eye on Friday’s Heineken Cup game, but they deserved the victory nonetheless.

Wales full-back Halfpenny discharged from hospital>

Rejigs and highlight reels for depleted Leinster backline>

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