Ulster will contest the final of the 2003 Celtic Cup after producing a winning second-half performance at Hughenden last night to subdue a Glasgow side that had ruled the touchline battle before the break.
Such was the Ulster shambles in the lineout in the first 40 minutes that Glasgow seemed to pirate ball with ease. But in the second half Ulster sorted out their problems and by the end of the match looked more secure in the touchline exchanges.
Overall this was a deserved win by Ulster. Their forwards, given an exemplary lead by Andy Ward, who buzzed about the field with telling efficiency, dominated matters in the second half, so much so that Glasgow were rarely in their opponents' half.
Behind the scrum the Ulster backs contained the charging run of promising centre Graeme Morrison and in attack looked much the sharper unit with James Topping, in particular, threatening with a number of mazy runs.
The pressure of the Cup occasion was all too evident in the opening exchanges as Ulster squandered a penalty-created lineout in the corner by knocking on the, admittedly wet, ball at the throw-in.
Glasgow seemed to be gaining the upper hand with a series of promising moves but it was Ulster who profited by turning defence into attack with a kick upfield that was taken by skipper Andy Ward. The flanker then off-loaded to Ryan Constable, who brushed off the stretched Glasgow defence to score the game's first try.
A drop-goal attempt by Glasgow outhalf Dan Parks just scraped past the upright but the home side were undeterred and when a midfield attack was stopped by a high tackle Parks took the three points on offer with a well-struck penalty goal.
But immediately Glasgow offended by straying offside, allowing Ulster outhalf Adam Larkin to reopen the five-point gap with a successful kick at goal.
A drop goal by Parks, however, instantly reduced the Ulster lead to just two points, the 8-6 scoreline remaining unchanged at the end of the first half.
A dynamic start to the second half by Ulster brought a rapid reward with a second penalty goal by Larkin. Then a brisk break by Ward forced Glasgow to concede a penalty for which the Glasgow lock was despatched to the sin-bin.
But despite their greater numbers Ulster failed to gain any material advantage from the ensuing lineout in the corner.
Another chance was missed when Ward knocked on with the line at his mercy, allowing Glasgow to relieve pressure with a touchline kick.
Then when Larkin was just wide with a long-range penalty attempt further points went down the tube but a high tackle by Glasgow prop Lee Harrison gave the outhalf the chance to atone and this time there was no mistake.
It was all going right for Ulster and confirmation came when hero-of-the-night Larkin coolly dropped a goal from 35 metres out. Glasgow, out of the game in the second half, finally found their scoring rhythm when centre Graeme Morrison finished off a series of attacks on the Ulster line with a try converted by substitute Calvin Howarth.
Glasgow's late rally, however, was quelled with a fourth penalty goal by the sharpshooting Larkin to ensure Ulster's place in the final.
SCORERS - Glasgow: Morrison try; Howarth con; Parks penalty, drop-goal; Ulster: Constable try; Larkin 4 penalties, drop-goal
GLASGOW: R Kerr; D Millard (J Steel 62), G Maclure, G Morrison, S Lamont; D Parks (C Howarth 76), S Pinder; M Proudfoot (A Kelly 41), S Lawson, L Harrison, A Hall (J Beardshaw 70), N Ross, C Mather, D Macfadyen, P Dearlove.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, P Steinmetz, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell (N Doak 41); B Young (S Best 41), M Sexton, R Moore, M Mustchin, M McCullough (R Frost 41), A Ward, N Best, T McWhirter.
Referee: H Watkins (Wales)
