Ulster came out on top in a 12-try Parc y Scarlets extravaganza in round two of the BKT United Rugby Championship.

The Irish province flew out of the blocks to race into a 14-0 lead in as many minutes; Scarlets came surging back, then both sides traded blows in a breathless contest that eventually saw the Ulstermen come out on top 55-39.

At one stage Scarlets clawed their back to within six points of the visitors, but Ulster - semi-finalists last season - secured the match with a late penalty by man of the match John Cooney and a seventh try in the dying minutes.

Jonathan Davies, Ryan Conbeer, Vaea Fifita and Daf Hughes (twice) crossed for the home side, but ultimately Dwayne Peel’s side came up short.

It was Ulster who started with a rapid tempo that the home defence had trouble slowing down. Skipper Alan O’Connor and prop Marty Moore were the beneficiaries of Ulster’s dominance before Scarlets fired some shots of their own.

A sublime offload from Fifita set up wing Cory Baldwin and after more good work from the impressive Ioan Nicholas, captain Jonathan Davies raced through the gap for the try.

Scarlets fans were celebrating their second minutes later. Fly-half Sam Costelow provided the spark from deep and following a break from scrum-half Gareth Davies, Ryan Conbeer was freed for an unopposed run to the whitewash.

When Costelow landed a penalty on 25 minutes, Scarlets were in front for the first time, but they failed to take advantage of further pressure and from a clearance Costelow was yellow carded for what was deemed an illegal challenge in the air.

WIth the fly-half off the field, Ulster made the Scarlets pay. Cooney took an inside pass to score at the posts, then flanker Marcus Rea struck with a killer blow on the stroke of half-time.

Trailing 28-15, Scarlets needed an immediate response and it was that man Fifita who provided it a minute after the restart, intercepting 55 metres out before turning on the afterburners to touch down without anyone in his slipstream.

Cooney pulled three points straight back for Ulster then Burns touched down for Ulster’s fifth.

But the Scarlets were refusing to go away. On 54 minutes, replacement hooker Daf Hughes touched down from a well-drilled line-out drive, only for Ulster to respond with another try from Cooney after lengthy deliberation amongst the officials.

The see-sawing nature of the contest continued when Hughes claimed his second from another close-range line-out surge. Fellow replacement Rhys Patchell, on at half-time for the injured Nicholas, converted and landed a 40-metre penalty and suddenly there were only six points in it with 12 minutes remaining.

But it was Ulster who bossed the final minutes and after Fifta was shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on, Cooney added another penalty and replacement Tom O’Toole secured the maximum points late on.

Eighteen-year-old Luca Giannini came on for his URC debut to become the second youngest player to make his Scarlets debut in the competition, while in the final minute Sam O’Connor also joined his older brother Harri on the field to make his Scarlets bow.