Leinster score late to keep perfect record alive at Ulster's expense

United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster made it seven wins from seven as a late try from James Culhane allowed them to defeat Ulster 27-20.

Tries from Luke McGrath, Jordan Larmour, Jimmy O’Brien and James Culhane earned the visitors a winning bonus point in the Irish derby at Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster opened the scoring with a fourth-minute try scored by centre Ben Carson in the corner which was superbly converted by Nathan Doak from the touchline.

But Leinster quickly struck back with their own converted score, McGrath getting in at the posts off a scrum with Ross Byrne converting.

Doak then kicked a 12th-minute penalty to nudge Ulster in front, following Brian Deeny’s yellow card for a high hit on Aidan Morgan, but Byrne levelled it all up again with his strike five minutes later before Leinster were back at full strength.

All that remained in the opening half was a 29th-minute penalty strike by Doak to put Ulster in front again by 13-10.

The second half was only three minutes old when Nick Timoney was shown yellow for a collision with Scott Penny.

Leinster now had to make the extra man count and did so on 49 minutes when good work from O’Brien nearly put Osborne in only for the ball to be recycled and then moved right where Larmour dived over. Byrne again kicked the two points.

With Timoney back, Ulster struck after O’Brien put a ball out on the full. Camped in Leinster’s 22, Carson surged through for his second with Doak’s conversion of the 55th-minute effort putting Ulster 20-17 ahead.

The pattern continued as four minutes later; Leinster had the lead. This time a penalty was put to the corner and after a strong drive from Lee Barron, the ball was spun at pace, Larmour delivering for O’Brien in the corner.

Byrne was just wide with the conversion and Leinster led by just two points.

The edginess continued with Ulster needing to get up the field but then having to bring on Marcus Rea for a limping John Cooney just as Culhane drove over from a lineout to claim the bonus-point score for Leinster.

Byrne missed from a difficult angle but the visitors held on to their seven-point lead.