URC: Connacht 24 Ulster 29

Ulster edged out Connacht in their Christmas derby at Dexcom Stadium on Saturday. Connacht had to settle for a losing bonus point, leaving them outside the URC top eight.

Richie Murphy’s side deserved the win and now sit in fifth place. They scored four tries against a connacht team that started strong but couldn’t turn possession into points.Connacht dominated possession and territory, but giving up two tries shifted the game’s momentum.

“We go in at half-time 10-12 with around 70 per cent of possession,” said Connacht head coach Stuart Lancaster. “That was disappointing.Then, in the second half, the momentum changed. We suffered from the penalty count, and that led to pressure.”

He added that there were “plenty of positives,” but Connacht needs to fix their “defensive errors” to win.

“We are very new into this project. We have young players getting experience, which isn’t typical due to injuries.”

Connacht led for most of the first half, but Ulster’s zac Ward showed impressive pace. He broke two tackles and scored his second try, giving Ulster a led they wouldn’t relinquish.

Before that, Connacht had controlled possession, leading 10-0 after 30 minutes. Outhalf Sam Gilbert missed a 14th-minute penalty, but Lancaster’s team was pressing forward, especially after Ulster outhalf Jack Murphy received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on.