Ulster make Munster pay will painful late equaliser in Belfast

Stuart McCloskey scored with three minutes remaining as Ulster fought back to snatch a 26-26 draw with Munster at the Affidea Stadium.

Ulster had trailed 26-5 at the interval after the visitors crossed four times in a dominant first period.

Alex Kendellen’s opening score for Munster was cancelled out by Jacob Stockdale, but Marnus van der Merwe restored their lead.

Munster then took advantage of the sin-binning of Cormac Izuchukwu to move further ahead before the break through Dan Kelly and a second try for Kendellen.

Stockdale, making his 150th appearance for Ulster, began the recovery when he claimed his second and Dave McCann set up a rousing finish when he touched down after 68 minutes.

Points Flow Chart

Game ends in a Draw

Time in lead

0

Mins in lead

66

0%

% Of Game In Lead

80%

68%

Possession Last 10 min

32%

7

Points Last 10 min

0

McCloskey crashed over to bring Ulster within two points before Jack Murphy landed his third conversion, matching the efforts of JJ Hanrahan, to secure a remarkable draw.

Meanwhile, Sam Costelow slotted a late penalty as Scarlets secured a first victory of the United Rugby Championship season by overturning a 14-point half-time deficit to beat Benetton 27-26 in Llanelli.

Following back-to-back defeats to Welsh rivals Cardiff and Dragons, the hosts went ahead against Wayne Pivac’s Italian side through Sam Lousi’s early converted try.

But Benetton hit back to lead 21-7 at the break following scores from Siua Maile, Onisi Ratave and Italy captain Michele Lamaro, each converted by Jacob Umaga.

Blair Murray and Ellis Mee crossed in quick succession in the opening quarter of the second half to move Scarlets within two points.

Mee’s second try of the evening then put Nigel Davies’ men ahead before Louis Lynagh’s opportunistic score with six minutes remaining looked to have won it for the visitors.

But Wales fly-half Costelow, who landed two of his four conversion attempts, held his nerve in the 78th minute to spoil Pivac’s return to Llanelli.