SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY REPORTS

Ulster 24-35 Glasgow: Clinical Glasgow make most of their chances to overcome threat of Ulster



David Kelso
Ulster 24
Glasgow 35
GLASGOW'S smash-and-grab merchants racked up their fourth win on the trot thanks to a street-wise display at Ravenhill.

They were under the cosh for large portions of a fast-flowing contest, but underlined their sharpness when it came to turning pressure into points. Now Sean Lineen's men can use the bonus-award triumph as a springboard to a top-five finish in the Magners League.

Ulster had made a storming start – yet found themselves ten points adrift after the same number of minutes. The hosts set up camp in enemy territory and patiently strung together a series of phases, but paid dearly for a moment of indecision. Their fringe cover was slow to react when the ball popped out of a ruck, leaving Warriors play-maker Dan Parks to release Max Evans. The centre sent a beautiful chip towards the try-line and winger Lome Fa'atau won the race to earn himself a stroll to the target.

Parks slotted the conversion – then inflicted more damage as a result of Ulster indiscipline. They were guilty of backchat and Parks confidently drove the ball between the sticks to stretch his team's advantage.

Rattled Ulster surged back into attack and this time they kept their composure. They gambled by keeping the ball alive at a penalty instead of going for goal, and they were rewarded for their boldness as scrum-half Isaac Boss squeezed through for a short-range touchdown.

Paddy Wallace calmly clipped over the conversion at the mid-point of the half. The momentum was with the Irish outfit and their sheer pack power was underlined when Roger Wilson pounced for the second score in quick succession.

Glasgow wasted no time in hitting back as they capitalised on a defensive midfield mix-up. Graeme Morrison galloped through the middle before sending Johnnie Beattie clear.

Even better was to come for the Scots just after the restart when they created a third try – but again they were not made to work for it. This time it was Max Evans who reaped the dividends of sloppy defending and Parks had no problem with the kick. With visiting prop Moray Low in the sin-bin, the tide turned as wingers Simon Danielli and Tommy Bowe raced in for touchdowns. And the Wallace conversion edged Ulster back in front, only to see Parks thump over a penalty at the other end.

Then came more magic from Parks as he collected his own lob to send Thom Evans over for try No.4 for the Warriors, via link-man Beattie. And Parks had the last word with his third penalty.

This article was posted on 4-May-2008, 07:12 by Hugh Barrow.