Ulster blow away Scarlets with impressive first-half display

Ulster ran in five tries to claim a bonus-point 29-5 home victory over the Scarlets in the PRO14.

Centre Matt Faddes scored two tries while John Cooney, Matty Rea and Robert Baloucoune also crossed at the Kingspan Stadium.

Cooney kicked two conversions in a game which only saw two scores in the second half after Ulster had led 24-0 at the interval.

Jac Morgan claimed the Scarlets’ only try late in the game in what was just their second league defeat of the campaign.

The Irish province made a rapid start and had two tries in eight minutes.

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First it was Faddes who touched down following Stuart McCloskey’s kick through and then Cooney drove over from close range after Baloucoune was held up short.

Cooney uncharacteristically missed the first conversion from a fairly straightforward angle but then landed the second from the touchline to put Ulster 12-0 ahead.

The scoreline then advanced to 19-0 after 17 minutes. This time, Rea was driven over from a maul and Cooney again converted.

The bonus-point try came three minutes before the half hour when Baloucoune got over in the right corner, but Cooney missed the extras.