Leinster survived a second half comeback from Ulster as they claimed a 20-13 victory in difficult conditions in Belfast.
Despite Ulster having the possession early on, Leinster were clinical with ball in hand and had their opening try through Ryan Baird in the corner, following some lovely passes to send him away.
Ulster 0-7 Leinster
8' Leinster cross the try line with their first attack, working an overlap with Ryan Baird getting over in the corner. Ross Byrne converts
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📻 Listen 👉 https://t.co/7eKrwJNXCL pic.twitter.com/vmTF5mCBoI— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 30, 2022
Ulster only had themselves to blame for not scoring a try, with handling errors and issues at the scrum giving Leinster the upper hand in the first half.
They were dominating the breakdown and the maul, and that lead to Leinster’s second try in the 20th minute through Dan Sheehan, his fifth already this season.
Leo Cullen’s side were comfortable for the rest of the half and went into the interval with a 17-3 lead, and Ulster’s mistakes beginning to pile up.
READ HERE: 5 Standout Players As Emerging Ireland Cruise To Opening Victory
Leinster were cruising for the first 15 minutes of the first half and looked like they were cruising to victory. However, Ulster found a new lease of life and began take control of the breakdown and set piece.
The penalties piled up for Leinster and Jimmy O’Brien’s yellow card was followed up with a try from John Andrew to get Ulster back in the game.
They thought they were within touching distance of Leinster when Aaron Sexton went over in the corner, but a TMO review showed a brilliant piece of defending by Charlie Ngatai to dislodge the ball.
Ulster 10-20 Leinster
69' Ulster think they have scored a second try, but the TMO rules that Charlie Ngatai dislodges the ball from Aaron Sexton. A crucial intervention
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While Ulster continued to push for another try, a John Cooney penalty was all they had to show for their efforts to gain a losing bonus point.
Key Moments
In a scrappy, physical encounter in horrible conditions, Leinster laid down a marker to put them top of the URC table.
Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird and Ross Molony all put in huge shifts in the pack, but the way Ulster brought themselves back into the game will concern Cullen.
However, like they have so many times before, they found a way to win.
For Ulster, it was another big game of 'what if''. Constant errors in the first half, combined by an incredible tackle by Ngatai summed up their day.
Speaking on Premier Sports after the game, Luke Fitzgerald explained how it was the fine margins that let Ulster down.
⚪ In spite of a second half push from the home side, Leinster managed to hold on to come out on top in tonight's interpro
"In those big moments, I thought Ulster were just left wanting slightly. Very little between the teams in the end." 🗣️#ULSvLEI pic.twitter.com/Zlr6C2mElO— Premier Sports (@PremierSportsTV) September 30, 2022
"It was a lot of fight from Ulster in that second half, probably just left themselves too much to do in the first half.
I thought Leinster were very, very clinical with the opportunities that they got, and conversely, those big moments, I thought Ulster were just left wanting slightly."
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