B. Byrne (1 try), I. Madigan (1 conversion)
J. Payne (1 try), I. Humphreys (1 conversion and 1 penalty)
Zane Kirchner (Cian Kelleher, half-time); Fergus McFadden (Tom Daly, 59), Brendan Macken (Michael McGrath, half-time), Steve Crosbie, Darragh Fanning (Sam Coghlan Murray, half-time); Jimmy Gopperth (Ian Madigan, half-time), Luke McGrath (Isaac Boss, half-time); Cian Healy (Michael Bent, half-time), Bryan Byrne (Tyrone Moran, 59), Mike Ross (Tadhg Furlong, 52), Kevin McLaughlin, Mike McCarthy (Ben Marshall, 46), Jack Conan (Tom Denton, half-time), Shane Jennings (Josh van der Flier, 59), Sean O’BrienCAPTAIN (Dan Leavy, 18-22 & 49; Gavin Thornbury, 64).
REPLACEMENTS NOT USED: Sean McCarthy, Ed Byrne, Nick McCarthy, Cathal Marsh, Billy Dardis.
Louis Ludik (Ricky Andrew, half-time); Michael Allen (Rory Scholes, 18-26), Jared Payne (Louis Ludik, 70), Stuart Olding (Rory Scholes, 38; Jacob Stockdale, 52), Craig Gilroy; Ian Humphreys (Sean O’Hagan, 49), Paul Marshall (Michael Heaney, 67); Andrew Warwick (Ruaidhri Murphy, half-time; Callum Black, 67), Rob Herring (John Andrew, 64), Wiehahn Herbst (Declan Fitzpatrick, 36; Bronson Ross, 67), Dan Tuohy (Neil McComb, 64), Franco van der Merwe (Alan O’Connor, 52; Lewis Stevenson, 67), Robbie Diack (Mike McComish, 71), Sean Reidy (Clive Ross, 55; Conor Joyce, 71), Roger Wilson (Nick Williams, half-time; Kyle McCall, 74).
REPLACEMENTS NOT USED: David Shanahan, Ross Adair.
Whereas this time last year they were entertaining Northampton at Donnybrook, the latest Bank of Ireland showdown for the province took place in the ground that is primarily occupied by Shamrock Rovers Football Club.
Though it was never likely to replicate the intensity of a crunch PRO12 or European outing, any interprovincial clash always offers a certain level of intrigue.
It was the Ulstermen who enjoyed the more productive start to the proceedings and although full-back Louis Ludik fell just short of the try-line after receiving a neat offload from Jared Payne, the latter was on hand to squeeze through and score in the right corner with less than two minutes on the clock.
Returning out-half Ian Humphreys, who previously featured for the Ireland Wolfhounds against Argentina Jaguares at the same venue, brilliantly split the posts with his touchline conversion as Ulster laid down an early marker.
Following their struggles in the opening period of the Northampton tie, Leinster were eager to settle down and find a controlled rhythm. A strong 10th minute break from deep by Jimmy Gopperth opened up space for Darragh Fanning and O’Brien to make significant inroads, but Ulster eventually forced a turnover.
Gopperth was then presented with a penalty opportunity on the 15-minute mark, but his strike from just beyond the 10-metre line drifted marginally past the left hand post.
Michael Allen and Craig Gilroy later combined to halt Fergus McFadden’s burst towards the line, but despite coming under some sustained pressure from the Leinster pack, Ulster increased their advantage courtesy of Humphreys’ 31st-minute penalty – the former London Irish player made no mistake off his trusty left boot from an awkward angle.
When he executed an inch perfect cross-field delivery in Allen’s direction three minutes before the interval, a second Ulster try looked on the cards. Poor handling let down the Belfast native on this occasion though, and as a result Leinster’s deficit remained at 10-0 up to half-time.
Ulster did suffer a setback towards the end of the first half when centre Stuart Olding – playing his first game for the province in ten months – was unfortunately forced off through injury, and thanks to the introduction of several fresh legs upon the resumption, Leinster added an extra spark to their play.
A prolonged spell inside the Ulster 22 put them in an ideal position to finally break the deadlock, and after the ball was worked effectively out of an opposition scrum, hooker Bryan Byrne was on hand to touch down in powerful fashion on the left.
The score put a major spring in Leinster’s step and with replacement out-half Ian Madigan expertly adding the extras, some serious questions were now being asked of Ulster.
The loss of Olding’s replacement, former Ireland Under-20 international Rory Scholes, further weakened the hand of the Les Kiss-coached visitors, but because of the necessity for both teams to experiment ahead of their return to competitive action, it was unsurprising that try-scoring opportunities were at a premium inside the final quarter.
Outstanding approach work by Ulster scrum half Paul Marshall almost led to a Gilroy try 16 minutes from time, but the retreating Leinster defence were quick to close out the danger.
As the final whistle approached, the strong half-back pairing of Madigan and Isaac Boss did their best to try and manufacture a match-winning score, but the Ulstermen, who had hooker John Andrew yellow carded, held firm as Leinster succumbed to their second pre-season loss.
REFEREE: George Clancy (IRFU)