Michael Lowry impressive as Ulster seal Glasgow victory

However, despite the win in Scotland, Dan McFarland’s side slipped further behind Leinster in the race to top Conference A in the Pro14.

Leo Cullen’s side came from 15-14 down at half-time and picked up a try-scoring bonus point in a 35-29 win to extend their lead to five points at the top of the table.

Glasgow dominated the opening five minutes, forcing three lineouts in the Ulster 22 - but they couldn’t capitalise due to a combination of poor throwing or handling mistakes.

Glasgow again spurned a great opportunity as they kicked a penalty in the Ulster 22, however, they infringed at the lineout and the visitors were able to clear their lines.

Ulster were denied a try with their first visit into the Glasgow 22 on 20 minutes. Following a high tackle on Stuart McCloskey, out half Ian Madigan kicked to the corner, the forwards set up the driving maul and No8 Marcell Coetzee rumbled over but the TMO adjudged the Springbok didn’t ground the ball.

From the resulting five-metre scrum, Ulster won a penalty and went for touch but Glasgow were able to sack the lineout maul and force a turnover.

Glasgow finally broke the deadlock on 36 minutes with out half Adam Hastings landing a penalty after Ulster prop Eric O’Sullivan was punished for not rolling away at the breakdown.

Ulster went into half-time with a 7-3 lead, with Lowry’s try 30 seconds before the interval.

Glasgow were on the attack but Madigan intercepted a loose pass and Ulster sprung to life, O’Sullivan went on a rampaging run before feeding McCloskey, the centre shipped it to James Hume and he ran hard and straight at the home defence before popping it to John Cooney. The scrum half had Lowry on his shoulder and the full back used his pace to go under the posts, making the conversion for Cooney a formality.

Hastings cut Ulster’s lead to a single point with his second penalty in the 51st minute after Tom O’Toole infringed at the scrum.

Ulster should have had their second try two minutes later, following a sustained period of pressure in the Glasgow 22 the overlap was created but Gilroy knocked the ball on as he went over in the corner.

Gilroy struck three minutes later, Madigan make the initial break, O’Toole took it on, Cooney and Lowry lined up and the full back put the winger over for an unconverted try.

Relentless Ulster pressure resulted in a third try on 63 minutes.

From a penalty Madigan kicked to the corner, hooker Adam McBurney found Jordi Murphy with the throw and the pack powered flanker Nick Timoney over with Cooney converting.

Ulster’s replacement scrum half Alby Mathewson was sin binned on 74 minutes for a deliberate knock on.

Glasgow immediately made their numerical advantage count as replacement prop Aki Seiuli barged over with Ross Thompson converting.

Ulster held on in a frantic finish.

Glasgow Warriors: H Jones, R Tagive, R Fergusson, S Johnson, R McLean; A Hastings, J Dobie, O Kebble, J Matthews, E Pieretto; R Gray, L Nakarawa, R Harley, T Gordon, R Wilson.

Replacements: G Stewart for Matthews 41 mins, A Seiuli for Kebble 60 mins, D Rae for Pieretto 72 mis, J Scott for Wilson 62 mins, TJ Ioane for Nakawara 57 mins, S Kennedy for Dobie 68 mins, R Thompson for Hastings 64 mins, O Smith.

Ulster: M Lowry, C Gilroy, J Hume, S McCloskey, R Lyttle; I Madigan, J Cooney, E O’Sullivan, J Andrew, M Moore; A O’Connor, K Treadwell, N Timoney, J Murphy, M Coetzee,

Replacements: A McBurney for Andrew 51 mins, A Warwick for O’Sullivan 51 mins, T O’Toole for Moore 44 mins, C Izuchukwu for Treadwell 57 mins, G Jones for Coetzee 41 mins, A Mathewson for Cooney 68 mins, S Moore, M Faddes for Gilroy 71 mis,

Referee: B Blain (SRU).

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