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Ulster kept the pressure on Leinster at the top of Conference A with a hard-fought victory over Glasgow at Scotstoun.
Attempts by Michael Lowry, Craig Gilroy and Nick Timoney saw Ulster rebound from their first loss of the Guinness Pro14 season, which came against the Conference A leaders on January 8.
The visitors made the most of a dominant period after a tight 50 opening minutes and only claimed their second victory in the Pro14 at Scotstoun.
Ulster fell one more point behind Leinster, whose win over Dragons brought them forward five times, after their hopes for bonus points were hit by a late yellow card for Alby Mathewson.
But they survived a frenzied finish after substitute Aki Seiuli left for Glasgow’s only attempt.
It was the Warriors’ eighth loss of the league campaign, leaving them 11 points behind the top three.
Danny Wilson started with Oli Kebble, Huw Jones and Richie Gray after they were released from international service, while Leone Nakarawa made his first start in a year against the club he will join in the summer. .
FULL MATCH DETAILS
John Cooney and Stuart McCloskey left for Ulster after being released from service in Ireland.
The Warriors had the territory early but couldn’t make the most of a series of line-outs and were disappointed when Marcell Coetzee passed on a similar opportunity for the visitors, but couldn’t get the ball to land.
Adam Hastings opened the scoring with a penalty in the 36th minute upon his return from a shoulder injury before Ulster scored his first attempt 30 seconds before the break.
Ian Madigan intercepted Jamie Dobie’s pass on his way back to start a fluid move that saw James Hume and Cooney make ground down the right before setting Lowry to use his pace and cross. Cooney added easy conversion.
The injured Coetzee did not reappear after the break and Hastings reduced the deficit to one with a penalty from almost 40 meters.
Gilroy was rejected shortly before the line by the combined efforts of Jones and Ratu Tagive before the winger crossed moments later in the 55th minute following a penetrating move down the right. Cooney was unable to convert.
The Warriors lost captain Ryan Wilson to injury with James Scott entering for his debut and Ulster got his third down seconds later when Timoney mauled at the lineout in the 62nd minute.
This time Cooney converted to extend the lead to 13.
Mathewson was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate hit in the 75th minute and Seiuli soon made some pressure at home count, with Ross Thompson kicking Glasgow in a converted attempt at victory.
But Ulster held out to keep his title hopes.
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