Pro14: Cooney kicks Ulster to a 16-12 win over Cardiff Blues

Ulster's Marcell Coetzee is tackled by Cardiff's Nick Williams

Ulster got the better of Cardiff Blues 16-12 in a hard-fought Pro14 battle.

A pair of John Cooney penalties in the second-half earned the Irish side a narrow victory at Kingspan Stadium.

All the tries came in a the opening half as Blues' Matthew Morgan and Kristian Dacey crossed either side of Kieran Treadwell's score for Ulster.

In an increasingly scrappy contest, Cooney's boot proved the difference as the Blues paid the price for Seb Davies' controversial yellow card.

Cardiff were clinging onto a one-point advantage when Davies was sin-binned for a late hit on Ross Kane on the fringes of a ruck and the lock returned to action just as Cooney was kicking the hosts into a four-point lead.

The introduction of Rory Best also proved crucial for Ulster as the Ireland captain's experience at the line-out and breakdown gave the home side a lift during a stop-start second period with the hooker winning a late turnover penalty to deny Cardiff a chance of a winning try.

Scrum-half John Cooney scored 11 points for Ulster

Bookended by Cooney

Cooney started and ended the scoring on a cold Belfast evening as the scrum-half slotted an early penalty to give his side an early lead.

But the visitors were the better team for much of the opening period with the powerful ball-carrying ability of Nick Williams and Samu Manoa and some probing kicks by Jarrod Evans creating difficulties for the Ulster defence.

The Welsh side deservedly took the lead when Morgan managed to ground the ball under pressure for the opening try in the 10th minute.

Ulster regained the lead just minutes later when Stuart McCloskey followed up his brilliant burst with an off load that bounced off Treadwell's knee and the lock showed impressive pace to gather the ball and tumble over the line.

A rock-solid line-out maul provided the platform for the next Blues' try with Dacey darting through a tangle of bodies to dive over for a score converted by Evans.

Referee Stuart Berry shows a yellow card to Cardiff Blues lock Seb Davies

Tide turns for Ulster

Ulster looked devoid of ideas as they trudged off at the break but they enjoyed the better of the second half as they benefitted from the introduction of Best, Johnny McPhillips and Jacob Stockdale from the bench.

Best's fifth appearance of the season immediately settled the home side with a couple of accurate line-out throws before Davies was sent to the line after referee Stuart Berry's lengthy consultation with his TMO.

Another penalty just minutes later allowed Cooney to kick his side back into the lead and the scrum-half added another penalty from in front of the posts as the Ulster forwards took control of an increasingly feisty contest.

The Blues produced a late flourish as they chased a match-winning try but Best and Nick Timoney combined to win a turnover under their own posts and the hosts were able to hold out for a narrow win.

Ulster assistant coach Dwayne Peel on BBC Radio Ulster: "A scrappy game and it was a bit greasy underfoot and I thought Cardiff were very physical and put us under a lot of pressure.

"Obviously we're very happy with the win but as coaches we have a lot to work on but the four points for us is a happy feeling in the end."

Ulster: M Lowry; H Speight; J Hume, S McCloskey, L Ludik; B Burns, J Cooney; A Warwick, R Herring, M Moore, A O'Connor (captain), K Treadwell, S Reidy, J Murphy, M Coetzee.

Replacements: R Best, E O'Sullivan, R Kane, I Nagle, N Timoney, D Shanahan, J McPhillips, J Stockdale.

Cardiff Blues: M Morgan; B Scully, H Millard, R Lee-Lo, J Harries; J Evans, L Williams (capt.); R Gill, K Dacey, S Andrews, S Davies, J Turnbull, S Manoa, O Robinson, N Williams.

Replacements: L Belcher, R Carré, D Lewis, G Earle, J Down, T Williams, S Shingler, G Smith.

Referee: Stuart Berry (SARU)