Live Reporting

Peter Lockhart, Mark Strange and Glenn Kelly

  1. Cardiff 0-19 Ulster

    Cardiff back to their full allocation of players as Evan Lloyd returns from the bin, and boy do they need him.

  2. try

    Try - Cardiff 0-19 Ulster

    Jude Postlethwaite - 24mins

    The big centre is in again.

    The move starts with Werner Kok catching the ball in mid-air over the touchline but managing to pass the ball inside fantastically.

    The ball is worked all the way right to left where it finds Stuart McCloskey and he pings through a delicate chip which stands up perfectly for his centre partner Postlethwaite to gather and run in unopposed.

    Nathan Doak can't quite nail the conversion.

  3. Cardiff 0-14 Ulster

    Nathan Doak having an excellent game.

    Now he's off down the left wing with a chip and chase.

    The balls eventually goes loose but Doak is on hand again to ping the ball deep into the Cardiff 22 on the right-hand side.

    Cardiff chasing shadows at the moment.

  4. converted try

    Converted try Connacht 14-0 Dragons

    Caolin Blade - 19mins

    Connacht are cutting through their Welsh visitors so perhaps it is appropraite that the try scorer is called Blade!

    Initially, it was Shayne Bolton who made the break down the right before some glorious handling in contact as big second row Joe Joyce offloads to Bundee Aki.

    The Ireland international centre offloads to his fellow international and scrum half Blade to dive under the sticks. Cathal Forde adds the simple extras and the hosts are looking confident.

  5. try

    Converted Try - Cardiff 0-14 Ulster

    Jude Postlethwaite (try), Nathan Doak (conv.) - 18mins

    It's another for Ulster.

    Nathan Doak attacks from deep, and as he runs across the pitch the Cardiff defence seems to part like the biblical ocean and allows the scrum-half to charge towards the 22.

    Iain Henderson then makes a powerful surge before offloading to his left and Postlethwaite is on hand to sprint over from 10-metres out.

    Doak steps up to add the extra two points.

  6. try

    Converted Try - Cardiff 0-7 Ulster

    Cormac Izuchukwu (try), Nathan Doak (conv.) - 14mins

    Ulster have been knocking on the door for three or four minutes and eventually the door opens.

    It is the flanker Izuchukwu who powers over from a couple of metres out.

    Nathan Doak bangs over the extras from in front of the post.

  7. Sin-bin

    Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    Hooker Evan Lloyd is off to the bin for an infringement on the deck.

    Ulster tap again and are within two metres of the Cardiff line.

  8. No try

    Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    No try but it's back for another penalty to Ulster.

  9. Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    We are off to the TMO. Ulster hammering away at the Cardiff line, but did they ground the ball over the line? Let's find out.

  10. Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    Cardiff think they see a weakness in the Ulster backfield and are peppering the air with kicks.

    This time Ethan McIlroy catches securely and Ulster win a penalty that is kicked to within 15 metres of the Cardiff line.

  11. converted try

    Converted try Connacht 7-0 Dragons

    Paul Boyle - 6mins

    Connacht break into Dragons territory with a brilliant break by Cathal Forde. Despite turning over the ball, they dominate the visitors' scrum and win a penalty.

    Despite the three points being the easier option, Josh Ioane - a late replacement at out half for Jack Carty - goes to the corner. After a few phases, No. 8 Paul Boyle goes over from close range and Forde adds the extras.

  12. Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    Cardiff win their lineout but lose the ball to a turnover in contact and Stuart McCloskey hacks 40 metres down field and into touch.

  13. Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    Well that was impressive.

    Cardiff walk through the Ulster pack and win the penalty. It's kicked into the Ulster 22.

  14. Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    Ulster, in all red this evening, and are playing plenty of rugby early on, trucking the ball up the middle of the pitch.

    Cardiff finally get their hands on the ball and punt it high. The unfortunate Werner Kok cannot gather and it's a scrum to the hosts.

  15. Kick-off

    Connacht 0-0 Dragons

    We are underway in Galway on referee Gianluca Gnecchi's whistle. The Dragons kick off playing in a sky blue number.

  16. Kick-off

    Cardiff 0-0 Ulster

    Aidan Moragn of Ulster gets us underway in Cardiff in perfect conditions.

  17. Team news

    Connacht v Dragons (19:35 BST)

    Connacht will look to bounce back from back-to-back interpro defeats against Ulster and Leinster at home to a Dragons team who are on a four-game losing skid.

    Peter Wilkins makes six changes - three in the pack and three in the backline as he looks to give us side a jolt of life. Into the front row come Peter Dooley and Dylan Tierney-Martin while Niall Murray comes into the engine room.

    There is also a fresh half-back pairing with Caolin Blade and Jack Carty in at scrum half and out half respectively while Cathal Forde partners Bundee Aki in the centre.

    For the visitors, Dai Flanagan rings eight changes from their home reversal against Benneton last week with only Shane Lewis-Hughes and Harri Keddie remaining in the pack while Angus O'Brien moves from full back to out half. Centres Aneurin Owen and Joe Westwood remain as does Wales international wing Rio Dyer.

    Connacht: Peter Dooley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Finlay Bealham, Joe Joyce, Niall Murray, Cian Prendergast, Sean O'Brien, Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Jack Carty, Santiago Cordero, Bundee Aki, Cathal Forde, Shayne Bolton, Piers O'Conor

    Replacements: Eoin De Buitlear, Denis Buckley, Jack Aungier, Darragh Murray, Sean Jansen, Matthew Devine, Josh Ioane, Hugh Gavin

    Dragons: Cameron Jones, Ollie Burrows, Chris Coleman, Ben Carter, Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Harri Keddie, Aaron Wainwright, Dane Blacker, Angus O'Brien, Ewan Rosser, Aneurin Owen, Joe Westwood, Rio Dyer, Cai Evans

    Replacements: Brodie Coghlan, Aki Seiuli, Luke Yendle, Steve Cummins, Taine Basham, Rhodri Williams, Lloyd Evans, Harry Wilson

    Connacht v DragonsBBC Sport

    Connacht v Dragons

  18. 'We feel like we're moving in the right direction'

    Cardiff v Ulster (19:35 BST)

    Ulster head coach Richie Murphy speaking to Premier Sports: "To try and go four from six would be a really good block.

    "Over the last couple of weeks we feel like we're moving in the right direction.

    "Cardiff will try and slow us down, we're aware of that, and we're ready to combat that.

    "Hopefully we can get ball in hand, it's a lovely night out there, and try and play some good rugby."

    Richie MurphyGetty Images

  19. 'Plenty of dark days but I think that's what made me'

    Cardiff v Ulster (19:35 BST)

    Ulster hooker James McCormick believes the "dark days" he endured during a long spell on the sidelines helped steel him for the rigours of senior rugby.

    McCormick has capitalised on injuries to Irish internationals Rob Herring and Tom Stewart in the early weeks of the new season, scoring two tries on his first home start to help Ulster beat Ospreys last weekend.

    The 22-year-old starts again this evening in the Arms Park.

    Read more.

    James McCormickGetty Images

  20. Team news

    Cardiff v Ulster (19:35 BST)

    Ireland lock Iain Henderson returns from concussion to captain fifth-place Ulster against a Cardiff side on the back of three straht defeats.

    Henderson lines up alongside Kieran Treadwell in a new-look second-row amid six changes from the win at Ospreys.

    Ethan McIlroy starts at full-back so Mike Lowry shifts to the wing in place of two-try wing Jacob Stockdale, who is rested.

    Centre Jude Postlethwaite, scrum-half Nathan Doak and flanker Nick Timoney also return.

    Ben Thomas is recalled to captain Cardiff. Fellow centre Rey Lee-Lo along with forwards Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, Ben Donnell and Dan Thomas all return as coach Matt Sherratt rotates his squad.

    Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Iwan Stephens; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Ed Byrne, Evan Lloyd, Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

    Replacements: Daf Hughes, Corey Domachowski, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, James Botham, Thomas Young, Johan Mulder, Rory Jennings.

    Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Jude Postlethwaite, Stuart McCloskey, Mike Lowry; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Eric O’Sullivan, James McCormick, Tom O’Toole, Iain Henderson (capt), Kieran Treadwell, Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney, David McCann.

    Replacements: John Andrew, Andrew Warwick, Scott Wilson, Harry Sheridan, Marcus Rea, John Cooney, Ben Carson, Ben Moxham.

    Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)

    Cardiff v UlsterBBC Sport

    Cardiff v Ulster