Dogged Ulster claim derby spoils against sloppy Connacht

Ulster condemned Connacht to a third successive BKT URC loss and moved up to eighth in the table following a well deserved 17-7 win at the Dexcom Stadium.

The hosts had lost their previous six Irish derbies, including a 20-12 defeat to Leinster last weekend, and were second best for large spells of the game on a mild night in Galway.

Richie Murphy's Ulster were on a five-game losing streak in all competitions but upset the odds with tries from Eric O'Sullivan and Nick Timoney, and seven points from the boot of Nathan Doak.

Mack Hansen's try at the end of the first half appeared to swing the momentum back towards the hosts but a dogged Ulster defence and a series of unforced errors proved costly for Pete Wilkins' side, who now sit in 13th place.

The win completed a double for Ulster, who edged Connacht when the sides met in Belfast in October.

Both teams' preparations were disrupted just before kick-off when Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan and lock Darragh Murray cried off with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Niall Murray coming in, while Ulster lost captain Alan O'Connor and Rob Herring with Kieran Treadwell and John Andrew moving up from the bench.

It was a scrappy start but Ulster out-half Jack Murphy, son of coach Richie, got an early settler with a fine 50:22 kick on his first start.

From there the visitors, also missing Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson, had a sustained period of pressure close to the Connacht line, which yielded the first try of the night in the 11th minute.

Prop O'Sullivan barged his way over after Connacht had repelled a series of forward attacks close to the line.