Jones earns Scarlets' point

The Scarlets were outscored by two tries to one but a Stephen Jones penalty three minutes from time gave the Welsh side their first point in 11 Heineken Cup matches in a 16-16 draw with Ulster.

After a drab encounter affected by wind and rain at Parc y Scarlets both sides were happy with the draw in a meaningless Pool 4 clash with Ulster's 26-16 win last week the only points the two teams had to their names.

Scarlets had plenty of possession early on but it was Ulster who got the first points on the board on 12 minutes when Ian Humphreys sent over a sweetly-struck drop goal from 30 metres out.

Jones levelled matters six minutes later after Robbie Diack failed to roll away from the ruck but they conceded a soft try on 24 minutes to hand back the initiative.

Gifted second try

Humphreys was allowed to ghost past opposing lock Vernon Cooper to cross in the right hand corner, and although he failed to convert more soft defending gifted the visitors their second try of the half.

Seven minutes before the break, Darren Cave went past David Lyons Jonathan Davies and put in fellow centre Paddy Wallace, Humphreys again failing to split the uprights.

Scarlets could have narrowed the deficit in injury time but opted to run it, only to knock on 10 metres from the line and give a large section of the fans plenty to boo about heading into the tunnel.

But six minutes into the second half the hosts were rewarded for their territorial advantage, winger Darren Daniel making the most of an overlap to score on the right, Jones doing well to convert.

Accuracy

Centre Jonathan Davies went close to scoring on the other flank soon after but again Jones made the most of an Ulster indiscretion to level the scores at 13-13.

Opposite number Humphreys was unable to match Jones' unerring accuracy, missing twice from long range before edging his side ahead with his first successful place kick nine minutes from time.

However, it was Wales stand-off Jones who had the final say, calmly slotting home from in front of the posts to give his side a point.