Ulster condemned Connacht to a third successive BKT URC loss and moved up to eighth in the table following a well deserved 17-7 win at the Dexcom Stadium.
The hosts had lost their previous six Irish derbies, including a 20-12 defeat to Leinster last weekend, and were second best for large spells of the game on a mild night in Galway.
Richie Murphy’s Ulster were on a five-game losing streak in all competitions but upset the odds with tries from Eric O’Sullivan and Nick Timoney, and seven points from the boot of Nathan Doak.
Mack Hansen’s try at the end of the first half appeared to swing the momentum back towards the hosts but a dogged Ulster defence and a series of unforced errors proved costly for Pete Wilkins’ side, who now sit in 13th place.
The win completed a double for Ulster, who edged Connacht when the sides met in Belfast in October.
Both teams’ preparations were disrupted just before kick-off when Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan and lock Darragh Murray cried off with Dylan Tierney-Martin and Niall Murray coming in, while Ulster lost captain Alan O’Connor and Rob Herring with Kieran Treadwell and John Andrew moving up from the bench.
It was a scrappy start but Ulster out-half Jack Murphy, son of coach Richie, got an early settler with a fine 50:22 kick on his first start.
From there the visitors, also missing Ireland internationals Stuart McCloskey and Iain Henderson, had a sustained period of pressure close to the Connacht line, which yielded the first try of the night in the 11th minute.
Prop O’Sullivan barged his way over after Connacht had repelled a series of forward attacks close to the line.
Doak converted and then added a penalty after the home defence went offside as they scrambled following a brilliant James McNabney break in midfield.
Connacht just couldn’t get a foothold and Ulster’s defence was on top, while Finlay Bealham’s silly tackle on Treadwell off the ball almost caused more trouble.
However, the Westerners pack had the measure of Ulster at scrum-time and were able to work some territory off the back of a couple of penalties but a loud groan from the crowd after Bundee Aki infringed at a ruck signalled the end of a promising move.
Another win for the Connacht front row led to a warning from referee Andrew Brace but the hosts lost the ball forward close to the line.
However, they did manage to grab their opening score six minutes before the break when three Ulster defenders hesitated after a chip from Jack Carty in midfield and Hansen took full advantage to pluck the ball out of the air and sprint over under the posts.
Carty added the extras and Connacht trailed by just three.
Ulster lost wing Werner Kok to a wrist injury straight after the resumption, with academy back Wilhelm De Klerk getting his Ulster debut.
Andrew Warwick had replaced O’Sullivan at the break to bolster the Ulster scrum but they continued to infringe at the set-piece.
The lineout, however, was a source of joy and after a Cormac Izuchukwu steal, the visitors won two quick penalties paving the way for their second try.
McNabney claimed a close-range lineout and player of the match Timoney powered past three Connacht defenders to just reach the line and score.
Doak’s kick made it a two-score game again with 23 minutes left.
Replacement Sean Jansen made a couple of good runs but Connacht conceded another penalty at the breakdown inside the opposition 22.
Connacht introduced scrum-half Ben Murphy, older brother of Ulster out-half Jack, looking to add some impetus but handling again let them down close to the line, while they failed to take advantage of a lineout when Ulster spoiled the maul.
They blew a great chance when Cathal Forde kicked the ball dead from a penalty inside the 22, an issue over the course of the season for Connacht.
Hansen’s ingenuity led to a five-metre scrum but, for once, it was the Ulster pack who got the shove on to win a penalty, which was quickly followed by a superb Timoney jackal to bring the visitors out of the danger zone.
Connacht tried gamely to close the gap but Ulster’s work had been done and Harry Sheridan prevented a late consolation score that would have resulted in a bonus point.
Connacht: Piers O’Conor; Mack Hansen, Cathal Forde, Bundee Aki, Santiago Cordero; Jack Carty, Caolin Blade; Denis Buckley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham; Josh Murphy, Niall Murray; Cian Prendergast (capt), Shamus Hurley-Langton, Paul Boyle.
Replacements: Eoin de Buitlear (for Tierney-Martin 63), Peter Dooley (Buckley 63), Jack Aungier (Bealham 63), Oisín Dowling (Murray 53), Sean Jansen (Josh Murphy 53), Ben Murphy (Blade 58), Shane Jennings (Carty 58), Conor Oliver (Hurley-Langton 67).
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Werner Kok, Ben Carson, Jude Postlethwaite, Rory Telfer; Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, John Andrew, Scott Wilson; Kieran Treadwell, Cormac Izuchukwu; Matty Rea, Nick Timoney (capt), James McNabney.
Replacements: James McCormick (for John Andrew 12-25 (HIA) and 66), Andrew Warwick (O’Sullivan h/t), Corrie Barrett (Wilson 64), Harry Sheridan (Treadwell 69), David McCann (Rea 50), John Cooney, Aidan Morgan, Wilhelm De Klerk (Kok 42).
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
