Ulster remain top of the Magners League after a hard-fought 6-6 draw with provincial rivals Leinster at Ravenhill this evening.
The game failed to live up to expectations as wind and rain spoiled any chance of entertainment.
Defending champions Ulster started the match with 13 internationals while Leinster had 12, including Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll.
Leinster were aided by the elements in the first half and nearly took the lead when an attempted clearance from scrum-half Isaac Boss was charged down, but the Ulster defence were able to scramble the ball to touch.
Visiting outside half Andy Dunne was off target with a sixth-minute penalty after great play from the Leinster pack.
Leinster dominated but were unable to turn pressure on possession into points.
Both sides were reduced to 14 men after 29 minutes when Ulster lock Matt McCullough and Leinster prop Fosi Pala'amo were sin-binned.
Irish centre Gordon D'Arcy broke the deadlock a minute later with a sweetly struck drop goal, and Ulster outside half David Humphreys missed an injury-time penalty to leave Leinster 3-0 up at the break.
Leinster started the second half brightly and D'Arcy nearly went over for a try but was stopped by a great tackle from Boss.
Owen Finnegan should have increased Leinster's lead but dropped the ball with the try-line at his mercy.
Humphreys levelled the scores with a 59th-minute penalty and he put Ulster in front nine minutes later with a second successful kick as the visitors were punished for killing the ball on the ground.
D'Arcy's 69th-minute penalty gave Leinster a share of the points although they will be disappointed they failed to win the game after Ulster played the last 10 minutes with 14 men when Justin Harrison was sin-binned.
