Magners League Table

Team
Pld
Pts
LeinsterLeinster1861
Cardiff BluesBlues1856
MunsterMunster1848
Edinburgh RugbyEdinburgh1848
Glasgow WarriorsWarriors1846
Llanelli ScarletsScarlets1839
OspreysOspreys1837
DragonsDragons1834
UlsterUlster1829
Connacht RugbyConnacht1824
Ulster win takes them back to the top
24 - 17
Ravenhill   Att: 7,546
Referee: Malcolm Changleng
Saturday 25th March 2006, 15:30
Ulster climbed back to the top of the Celtic League with a 24-17 triumph over the Dragons at Ravenhill.
Bryn Cunningham
Bryn Cunningham celebrates his try.
The victory was the Irish province's fifth in a row and added to the Dragons' woes away from home where they have won only once in their last 18 games in all competitions since October 2004.

Fly-half David Humphreys once again proved to be the key for the title-chasers after weighing in with 14 points thanks to a try, penalty and three conversions.

The hosts powered into a 24-10 half-time lead during the first period but failed to produce the same results after the break.

In the end The Dragons grabbed a bonus point with a late Hal Luscombe try, superbly converted by Craig Warlow despite having to spend the majority of the second half down to 14 men.

The visitors took the early advantage with a penalty from Warlow but Ulster soon rallied and deservedly notched the first try of the game when a trunover led to Humpreys feeding Bryn Cunningham for the opening five-pointer.

Humphreys had added the conversion before an attacking lineout soon produced the second try.

After a catch and drive, Humphreys put Jonny Bell through a gap in the midfield and he found Tommy Bowe who skipped in under the posts.

Another conversion from Humphreys took Ulster's lead to 14-3.

The visitors refused to let the game get away from them and when a Humphreys clearance was charged down, the Dragons recycled before hooker Steve Jones went over in the corner.

Anpther excellent Warlow conversion reduced the deficit to ust four points.

Humphreys soon extended that advantage, chipping over the top of the on-rushing defence before chasing the ball and sliding over the line.

Their lead was stretched even further just before the break when Humphreys took advantage of an infringement by Steve Jones to slot another three points and ensure the 24-10 half-time lead.

Ulster continued to dominate after the break and some desperate defending from the Dragons resulted in Gareth Baber being sent to the sin-bin as Neil Best went close.

Subsequently Matt McCullough and then Roger Wilson were also held up over the line, and this time, with Baber back on the field, skipper Jason Forster was sent to the bin as his side illegally repelled the Ulster attack.

Errors littered the latter stages of the half and sweeping changes were made but the Dragons got their act together when Ceri Sweeney put Hal Luscombe clear for a try.

Warlow again added the difficult conversion to ensure the Dragons collected a losing bonus point.

Ulster V Dragons
 PDCTPosPlayerPlayerPosTCDP 




1

Bryn Cunningham
15
Aled Thomas










1

Tommy Bowe
14
Nathan Brew












Jonathan Bell
13
Hal Luscombe

1




Replacement off





Paul Steinmetz
12
Ceri Sweeney












Andrew Maxwell
11
Richard Fussell





Replacement off

1

3
1

David Humphreys
10
Craig Warlow


2

1

Replacement off





Isaac Boss
9
Gareth Baber





Yellow cardReplacement off
Replacement off





Bryan Young
1
Adam Black





Yellow card
Replacement off





Rory Best
2
Steve Jones

1



Replacement off






Simon Best
3
Rhys M. Thomas





Replacement off






Justin Harrison
4
Andrew Hall





Replacement off
Replacement off





Matt McCullough
5
Peter Sidoli












Neil Best
6
Jamie Ringer





Replacement off
Replacement off





Stephen Ferris
7
Jason Forster












Roger Wilson
8
Rhys Oakley






Replacements
Replacement on





Nigel Brady
16
Andrew Brown





Replacement on
Replacement on





Justin Fitzpatrick
17
David Maddocks





Replacement on
Replacement on





Ryan Caldwell
18
Chris Anthony





Replacement on






Neil McMillan
19
Luke Charteris





Replacement on
Replacement on





Kieran Campbell
20
Shawn Van Rensburg





Replacement on
Replacement on





Adam Larkin
21
Jon Bryant





Replacement on
Replacement on





Kevin Maggs
22
James Ireland





Replacement on
Penalty Tries
0
0
First half timeline
9Dragons
Penalty kick - C Warlow
12Ulster
Try - B Cunningham
12Ulster
Conversion - D Humphreys
16Ulster
Try - T Bowe
16Ulster
Conversion - D Humphreys
18Dragons
Try - S Jones
18Dragons
Conversion - C Warlow
21Ulster
Try - D Humphreys
21Ulster
Conversion - D Humphreys
27Ulster
Substitution - R Caldwell on for M McCullough
28Ulster
Substitution - K Maggs on for P Steinmetz
34Ulster
Substitution - M McCullough on for R Caldwell
40Ulster
Penalty kick - D Humphreys
Second half timeline
44Dragons
Yellow card - G Baber
49Ulster
Substitution - J Fitzpatrick on for B Young
51Dragons
Substitution - L Charteris on for A Hall
51Dragons
Substitution - S Van Rensburg on for J Ringer
54Dragons
Yellow card - A Black
57Dragons
Substitution - D Maddocks on for S Van Rensburg
60Dragons
Substitution - C Anthony on for R Thomas
67Ulster
Substitution - R Caldwell on for S Ferris
67Ulster
Substitution - K Campbell on for I Boss
71Ulster
Substitution - N Brady on for R Best
74Dragons
Substitution - J Bryant on for R Fussell
74Dragons
Substitution - J Ireland on for G Baber
79Dragons
Try - H Luscombe
79Dragons
Conversion - C Warlow
80Dragons
Substitution - A Brown on for S Jones
80Ulster
Substitution - A Larkin on for K Maggs
All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Martin Stuart
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