PRO12: Ulster win 46-26 at Ospreys to clinch play-off spot
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 07/05/16 7:17pm
Ulster secured their place in the Guinness PRO12 play-offs as they ran in six tries in their 46-26 victory at Ospreys.
Dan Biggar's score had given Ospreys an early lead before Paddy Jackson and Rory Best put the Irish province in front.
Josh Matavesi pulled the hosts level briefly but Andrew Trimble's try sent Ulster into the break 21-14 ahead.
And the visitors were to retain their lead for the rest of the match as Chris Henry, Stuart Olding and Franco van der Merwe also dotted down for Ulster, with Tom Grabham's double proving to be merely consolation.
Ulster will now have to go to Connacht in the PRO12 semi-final while it is back to the drawing board for Ospreys, who have never previously failed to qualify for the top tier of European competition.
Ospreys made their intentions known from the start by turning down kickable penalties in the pursuit of tries and the hope of a bonus point victory.
And after 12 minutes the plan was going well when Biggar went over the posts from a scrum to convert his own try.
But Ospreys found themselves getting turned over too much in Ulster's 22 and it was the visitors who struck with two tries in the space of 10 minutes.
Both scores came from scrums as Jackson was put over by full-back Jared Payne before skipper Best went in from 10 metres out. Jackson converted both scores as Ulster led 14-7 on 27 minutes.
But the home side got back on level terms when Matavesi reached out to score after the Welsh side ran a penalty. Biggar converted.
It looked like the half would end 14-14 but a poor kick ahead by Rhys Webb was returned by Trimble and he got lucky with the bounce from his chip ahead to run in a final-minute try. Jackson put over his third conversion.
It took until only the second minute of the second half for Ulster to open up a 10-point lead when Jackson converted their first penalty of the match.
The Ospreys did respond with an attack inspired by replacement Olly Cracknell but again they were guilty of turning over ball in Ulster's 22.
On 56 minutes Henry scored an opportunist try by touching the ball down when it squeezed out of a ruck to give Ulster the bonus-point try.
It was a controversial moment with the home crowd not liking the decision after television match official Derek Bevan advised referee Marius Mitrea he could award the try. Jackson converted and then kicked a penalty as Ulster led 34-14 in the 60th minute.
Ospreys scored a third try when Grabham went over in the right corner. Biggar missed the conversion.
But three minutes later replacement Olding was put over under the posts for Jackson to add his fifth consecutive conversion.
Five minutes from time Grabham went over for his second and Ospreys' bonus-point try but it was too little, too late.
And before the end Van der Merwe crashed over for try No 6, but Trimble missed the conversion.
