The defeat in Belfast leaves the Scarlets nine points adrift of pacesetters Leinster.
Wales scrum half Dwayne Peel staked his claim for the Wales number nine jersey against Ireland in a week’s time with an assured display on his first Scarlets match since New Year’s Day.
Peel pleaded with Wales Coach Warren Gatland for some much needed game time after being given the all-clear to start following medical tests following a knock to his head in the RBS Six Nations win against Italy.
Ulster were also boosted by the return of Ireland internationals Rory Best, who skippered the home side and Paddy Wallace, who was given the honour of leading out his teammates to celebrate his 100th appearance for Ulster.
Rhys Priestland kicked off the match for the Scarlets at a wind-swept Ravenhill and took less than two minutes to put the visitors, in their changed strip of all black, on the front foot with an excellent lofted kick deep into Ulster’s 22.
But two minutes later, the 21-year-old fly half struggled to deal with the atrocious conditions as the swirling wind picked up and the rain continued to lash down as he failed to make any distance with his next kick with a sliced effort directly into touch.
Ulster and Wallace utilised the gift of possession well as the inside centre made the first break of note with a piercing midfield burst on ten minutes. As the support arrived, the Scarlets were caught offside.
But Niall O’Connor failed to take advantage for the home side as the fly half’s penalty crashed against the left hand post.
The warning signs were there for Phil Davies’s men as Ulster dominated possession and territory in a physically demanding and bruising opening quarter.
Ulster’s line-out was proving to be particularly efficient with former Australian lock Justin Harrison, who will move to Bath at the end of the season, always making a nuisance of himself. But the Scarlets’ defence held firm.
Wallace continued to test the Scarlets rearguard with another mini break on the half hour. But the visitors hit back five minutes later with Regan King getting the opportunity to stretch his legs on a rare attack. In the following phase, the match nearly boiled over when Harrison and Gavin Thomas became involved in a heated exchange.
The Scarlets were slowly wearing down their well-drilled opposition and after a typical dart by the lively Peel and then Dafydd James, they were granted a close-range penalty as Ulster strayed offside.
Priestland opened the scoring with the penalty from in front of the posts just two minutes before the break.
But Ulster hit back and O’Connor’s kick to touch in the third minute of first half injury time signalled their intentions. Harrison won the line-out and after a series of powerful drives, scrum half Isaac Boss scrambled over.
O’Connor’s tricky conversion attempt was held up in the wind but the hosts held a slender 5-3 half time lead.
The Scarlets sent on club skipper Simon Easterby and Alix Popham in a bid to change the game but O’Connor nudged the hosts further clear with a long-range penalty on 45 minutes.
Driven by Peel, the Scarlets gained momentum and drew level with fifteen minutes left. Nathan Brew’s mazy run was halted by the Ulster defence but Priestland surged through a gaping hole to touch down.
Priestland missed the conversion and a golden chance to put the Scarlets into the lead for the first time. And it proved costly as Ulster flankers McCullough and Best powered over with decisive tries in the final seven minutes.
