Confident Connacht complete double over Ulster

Connacht climbed to second in Conference A with a relatively comfortable 21-12 Pro14 win over Ulster at the Sportsground on Friday.

Andy Friend’s Connacht are the only visiting team to have beaten Ulster at Kingspan Stadium this season and they completed a double over their Irish rivals after a strong start to both halves.

Shane Delahunt crossed after 12 minutes, with Bundee Aki dancing through to follow suit seven minutes later. Jack Carty kicked the conversion on both occasions.

Ulster threatened to come back into contention when Angus Kernohan went over ahead of half-time, but the gap was stretched again two minutes after the restart.

Carty teed up Caolin Blade for Connacht’s third try, before Ultan Dillane was yellow-carded for dangerous play at a line-out just a minute on from replacing Quinn Roux.

Jordi Murphy went through off a driving maul on the next play to restore some respectability to the scoreline, but Ulster were unable to turn to get any closer.

An interpro victory is in the bag! #MerryChristmas #StrongerInGreen pic.twitter.com/CBKtUGhFZ9

— Connacht Rugby (@connachtrugby) December 28, 2018

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