Ulster's revival continued with a rare win over BKT URC leaders Leinster at the RDS.
It was just the team’s third victory at the venue in 22 games and there will have been none sweeter.
Arriving on the back of morale-boosting wins over Racing 92 and Connacht, Dan McFarland’s men were full value for their narrow win, with Leinster, having made 14 changes to the side that defeated Munster last time out, left to rue too many defensive lapses.
First-half tries from Nick Timoney [2] and Jacob Stockdale, and seven points from the boot of John Cooney were enough to get the visitors past the post and tries from Cian Healy, Rob Russell and Dan Sheehan were not enough for the league leaders, who remain two points ahead in the standings.
We may have to reassess what type of game we expect in difficult conditions after a thrilling 80 minutes served up by the two teams in front of 16,248 in Dublin 4.
The rain never relented from hours before kick-off but the slippery surface at the windswept ground didn’t dictate proceedings.
Ulster, through the guile of player of the match Billy Burns, and Leinster, mostly using the power of their forwards, delivered five tries in a high-octane first half.
Leo Cullen's side, who had to deal with two late cry-offs ahead of kick-off with captain James Ryan and Jimmy O'Brien replaced by Joe McCarthy and Ciarán Frawley, targetted Robert Baloucoune early with the high ball but despite a couple of spills it was Ulster who adapted better and hit during their first foray into the hosts’ territory.
After a clean line-out, Burns chipped over the top and Timoney latched on. From just outside the 22 he had a race against Frawley but the number 8's momentum saw him slide over for the first try in the fifth minute. Cooney converted.
Three minutes later they had a second.
Will Addison took a high ball deep in his own half and Sean Reffell brushed off a weak tackle at the side of a ruck.
SECOND TRY FOR ULSTER - Billy Burns with another deft kick through for Jacob Stockdale to touch down
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He had Stuart McCloskey in support and after a quick recycle, Burns spotted the space behind and grubbered perfectly for Stockdale to pick up and run in unopposed.
Leinster soon hit back. After getting into the danger zone with a couple of penalties, Healy barged over for his 31st Leinster try, which was converted by Sam Prendergast.
Then followed a valiant defensive set by the visitors, with Leinster crossing the line twice without reward.
Firstly, Will Connors’ effort was chalked off after a replay with the officials spotting McCarthy obstructing in the lineout, and Leinster were then held up over the line.
A poorly conceived goalline drop out, however, handed possession back to Leinster after a Luke Marshall knock-on.
With Caelan Doris - captaining the team for the first time - running hard, the Ulster defence was stretched and after they failed to get a hold of Jamison Gibson-Park, they found themselves on the back foot.
An 18th phase close to the line brought a penalty advantage and the scrum-half's chip hit the crossbar before bouncing in front of Prendergast.
The out-half scooped the ball out to Tommy O’Brien who found Russell unmarked on the wing. He slid in for their second, and Prendergast’s kick put Leinster 14-12 ahead in the 26th minute.
But it was Ulster who were to have the last say of a breathtaking first stanza.
Tom O’Toole, at first receiver, shovelled the ball to Burns and despite being flat-footed he executed another superb cross kick.
Once again, the Leinster cover had gone missing, leaving Timoney the simple task of collecting and dotting down. It was his fifth try in his last three games and his current form will bring him back into the Ireland conversation.
Cooney’s sideline conversion gave Ulster a 19-14 lead at the break.
Understandably, the game somewhat tightened up in the second half but was no less compelling.
The opening score came via a Cooney penalty in the 55th minute and Ulster enjoyed the better of the exchanges.
However, when McCarthy blocked down Cooney's clearance on his own 22, the game swung once again towards Leinster.
A penalty soon arrived and Ross Molony, just on as a replacement, took the lineout ball and the pack powered towards the line with Sheehan getting the score his performance deserved.
Replacement Harry Byrne’s kick from the touchline made it a one-point game with 16 minutes to go.
A clever kick by Gibson-Park brought play close to the Ulster line but Leinster couldn’t capitalise initially, knocking on at the lineout.
Post-match reaction from Billy Burns
But Ulster struggled to clear their lines, and were only saved when Marshall read Gibson-Park's long pass to intercept. They then won a penalty when Leinster went off their feet at the ruck with Mike Lowry under pressure.
Byrne overcooked a 50:22 attempt, which brought another reprieve for the Ulstermen.
Nathan Doak punished the error, kicking deep into the Leinster 22 where Frawley could do no more than scramble into touch.
A double-bank from the subsequent lineout and a scrum infringement handed Leinster one last chance but Byrne missed touch with his kick and that was that.
Ulster are up to fourth in the standings and will revel in this victory for some time to come.
Leinster: Ciarán Frawley; Tommy O'Brien, Liam Turner, Robbie Henshaw, Rob Russell; Sam Prendergast, Jamison Gibson-Park; Cian Healy, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Jason Jenkins, Joe McCarthy ; Ryan Baird, Will Connors, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Lee Barron, Jack Boyle, Michael Ala'alatoa, Ross Molony, Jack Conan, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Josh van der Flier.
Ulster: Will Addison; Rob Baloucoune, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Billy Burns, John Cooney; Steven Kitshoff, Rob Herring, Tom O'Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Iain Henderson; Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Andy Warwick, Scott Wilson, Alan O'Connor, Dave Ewers, Nathan Doak, Mike Lowry, Jude Postlethwaite.
Referee: Frank Murphy
