Ulster wins it at the death v Glasgow

Ulster's ability to absorb wave after wave of pressure and overcome a superior scrum and lineout, saw them claim a remarkable BKT URC win over defending champions Glasgow in Belfast.

The winner came a full five minutes into over-time after when scrum-half Dave Shanahan dotted down with the last play of the game.

Although they momentarily held a lead in the final ten minutes, it was Glasgow who always looked more likely to take the victory.

While Leinster, Munster and Connacht were all involved in ten-try thrillers, this encounter was just as intriguing and hard-fought.

Aidan Morgan scored on his debut and Dave McCann dotted down but Kyle Steyn's late try, in addition to first-half five-pointers from Johnny Matthews and Henco Venter had the visitors in command until the final late surge continued Ulster's opening-round winning streak, which now stretches to ten seasons.

It was a first half that the Warriors dominated in terms of possession and territory but they still only emerged with a two-point advantage.

Ulster were barely visitors to the opposition 22 but they were able to glean 10 points when their chances arose.

After Doak had put Ulster on the board with a close-range penalty in the 17th minute, it was time for Morgan to announce himself to the Ravenhill faithful with an excellent opportunistic try.

The Ireland-qualified New Zealand, on his first competitive outing for the province, first blocked down Tom Jordan's kick on the halfway line, hacked ahead and collected under pressure.

He had Mike Lowry in support and Eric O'Sullivan and Jude Postlewaite were quick to return the ball to Morgan who burrowed his way over the line, with Doak converting.

Those ten point came in response to an early Glasgow try, built on the back of one of seven first-half penalty concessions by the hosts, who gave a debut to new signing Corrie Barrett at tighthead.

In the fifth minute Glasgow, after declining a straightforward kick at goal, took a clean lineout close to the line, shifted the point of play quickly and hooker Johnny Matthews emerged with the ball after a short maul.

The game was frantic and open and both sides were determined to keep the ball in play but possession was coughed up much to easy for the liking of either of the head coaches.

Ulster were struggling with the power of the Glasgow forwards and second best at the set-piece.

From an offside penalty in midfield, Jordan kicked to the corner and multiple recycles forced Ulster, onto the back foot before number 8 Henco Venter powered his way over.

Franco Smith's side could have been more clinical but it was more dogged Ulster defence that frustrated the visitors, who led 12-10 at the break.

Rory Darge was denied a try ten minutes into the second half when the TMO called play back for an earlier forward pass but Ulster were hanging on.

But after Ulster absorbed yet more pressure the tide turned.

Tom Jordan was sent to the sin bin after making contact with Postlethwaite's head at a clearout, while seven minutes later Richie Gray also saw yellow when he went offside as Ulster piled on at the line.

In the midst of a spell close to the line, Ulster declined a kick that would have put them ahead.

Werner Kok was on for his debut and the South African carried hard on after coming off his wing.

Eventually the hosts breached the valiant Glasgow line with eight minutes to play when McCann scrapped his way over from close range but Morgan miscued off the tee and Ulster led by 15-12.

But the Scottish outfit hit back from the restart, keeping the ball alive on short side with a number of pop passes before the lively Steyn shuffled his way over to quiten the Kingspan crowd.

Adam Hasting floated the conversion over and Ulster knew only a try would do it.

And they went about it the hard way. A maul decision went their way on halfway and from that Glasgow conceded a penalty.

Ulster worked a clever lineout move and then proceeded to pound the Glasgow line as the clock went into the red. A series of short but disciplined carries eventually took them to the line and Shanahan somehow worked a quarter-back sneak that put Ulster ahead by a point.

The drama wasn't over and the TMO was called in but none of the replays showed any clear infringement and Ulster had beaten the champions.