SCARLETS had a finish they will want to forget in Llanelli as Ulster came back to earn a thrilling 32-32 draw.
Having led 24-15 at half-time, Scarlets looked set for a comfortable victory when Rhys Priestland kicked a penalty and Gareth Davies scored his second try. But Louis Ludik gave Ulster hope with a try that Ian Humphreys converted, and with three minutes to play Scarlets, leading by seven points, lost a man when Liam Williams was sent off by referee Peter Fitzgibbon.
Ulster took advantage. Andrew Trimble scored a try and Humphreys kicked the conversion just before the finish.
There were five tries in a first half punctuated by poor defending. Harry Robinson, Rory Pitman and Gareth Davies scored for Scarlets, and Paul Marshall and Dan Tuohy went over for Ulster.
Newport Gwent Dragons rued the loss of two men to the sin bin, Lee Byrne and Tyler Morgan, in their 16-11 defeat at Connacht. Danie Poolman scored a crucial try while both men were off the pitch, after a stunning crossfield kick by Jack Carty.
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Leinster rallied from 19-3 behind to lead by a point against Glasgow — but then lost to Stuart Hogg’s last-minute penalty at Scotstoun.
In the season-opening game on Friday night, Edinburgh surprised Munster by winning 14-13 in Limerick. It was a third straight loss at home for Munster, their worst run at Thomond Park.