Ireland wing Andrew Trimble ran in a last-gasp try to complete the late fightback that earned Ulster a share of the spoils in a 32-32 draw at Scarlets as the new GUINNESS PRO12 campaign began with a bang.
Scarlets, who finished two places below their Irish visitors last season, surrendered a 14-point advantage in the closing stages and ended the match with 14 men after Liam Williams saw red.
The pair's expansive styles earned both an opening day bonus-point and showed they possess enough firepower to exploit any weak defences they come across this term.
For the fourth season in a row Parc y Scarlets staged a season opener and the contest was only three minutes old when Harry Robinson - a summer recruit from Cardiff Blues - touched down and Rhys Priestland added the extras.
But just six minutes later Ulster were back on level terms. New signing Franco van der Merwe crossed for last season's PRO12 semi-finalists and fellow debutant Ian Humphreys nailed the conversion.
Priestland's penalty briefly edged Scarlets back in front, but on 14 minutes Ireland international lock Dan Tuohy went over.
This to-and-fro contest swung back the way of the Welsh region on 26 minutes though when No8 Rory Pitman ran in and Priestland again converted.
A Humphreys penalty reduced the deficit, but Gareth Davies ran in the first of his two tries and Priestland kept up his 100 per cent record off the tee to give Scarlets a 24-15 at half-time.
The Welsh region won last season's corresponding contest 17-9 and head coach Wayne Pivac had declared in the build-up there was: "no better team to have first up at home".
That sentiment looked further justified when the home side pulled clear when Davies ran in for his second score on 63 minutes, after both Priestland and Humphreys had landed another three points each.
But, with 12 minutes remaining, Ulster got the reward for intense pressure.
Camped deep inside the Scarlets half for the most part, full-back Louis Ludik was first to profit, with his first points since the summer switch from Agen. Humphreys kicked the extras.
But once Williams was sent off for Scarlets the momentum was most definitely with the visitors.
And they made the most of their man advantage to claim an unlikely draw, as well as a bonus point, through Trimble, before Humphreys held his nerve with the conversion.
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