Munster win to stay top

Munster claimed their first win in Belfast since 2007 as a 16-6 victory over Ulster kept them top of the Magners league.

Centre Ivan Dineen scored a last-minute try on debut to deny the hosts even a losing bonus point.

Dineen latched onto an attempted Ian Humphreys flick pass to run in under the posts, after Paul Warwick's 69th-minute penalty had put the visitors 9-6 ahead.

Ulster have now lost three games in succession and failed to score a point in the second half.

Ulster needed to start well and duly did so, with Ian Whitten offloading to fellow centre Nevin Spence to set up an early attack.

Spence charged into space and put Ulster on the front foot deep in Munster's 22, ultimately leading to Ruan Pienaar's opening penalty after six minutes when the visitors strayed offside.

But Ulster failed to deal with the restart and when Johann Muller and Robbie Diack collided, Munster pounced on the ball and Paul Warwick levelled the scores after Ulster were penalised at a ruck.

Pienaar's second penalty put Ulster back in front but that was as good as it got for the home side.

Pienaar was wide with a long-range penalty attempt just after the half hour and then, in the final action of the half, Spence again made a strong break but Adam D'Arcy was unable to get on the ball as it rolled over the line from a chip.

Fumbled

The second half opened with Warwick's second penalty to tie the scores again after Ulster fumbled from the restart, and then only a frantic last-ditch turnover saved Ulster from conceding a try.

Ulster responded with a period of dominance but Munster held firm when put under pressure from Pedrie Wannenburg and replacement Chris Henry.

However, it was Wannenburg who gave away the penalty after 68 minutes, for not rolling away at a ruck, from which Warwick made it 9-6.

Pienaar should have made it 9-9 in the 77th minute but his straightforward penalty attempt sailed wide, Munster sealing the win when Humphreys' pass was seized upon by Dineen, who went in under the posts with the last play of the game.