Llanelli Scarlets 23 Ulster 16
Llanelli Scarlets were crowned Celtic League champions as Wales star Stephen Jones produced a virtuoso farewell performance to deny Ulster at Stradey Park tonight.
Fly-half Jones, who will join French club Montferrand this summer, kicked 18 points and created a brilliant try for centre Matthew Watkins. He was the one Scarlets player that Ulster could not handle on a night of raw emotion when Llanelli became Wales' first Celtic title winners.
Ulster played their part in an absorbing championship decider, yet ultimately had to settle for second place behind Llanelli, but narrowly ahead of Newport Gwent Dragons.
Jones finished with five penalties and a drop-goal, although it was the magical outside break which created Watkins' try that will long live in the memories of Scarlets supporters.
Ulster coach Alan Solomons was denied a dream finale before he links up with Northampton next season as Ulster's erratic away form - seven defeats from 11 starts on the road - undermined their Celtic League campaign.
The teams were separated by just one point before kick-off, giving league organisers a dream finale to this season's competition. Ulster made a late change, replacing wing Tyrone Howe with James Topping, while Llanelli lost scrum-half Dwayne Peel to a hamstring injury.
The visitors were ahead inside four minutes, courtesy of a 50-metre penalty from Humphreys, and it took Llanelli a time to settle, especially with the stakes so high.
Jones settled their nerves by stroking over a 14th-minute penalty, yet there was little between the sides during an intense opening quarter. Humphreys regained the initiative for Ulster through his second successful strike - he missed a short-range effort just four minutes earlier - but Jones was well wide when Llanelli had a penalty chance following lock Matt Mustchin's body-check on wing Garan Evans.
Llanelli, as in their home Heineken Cup quarter-final defeat against Biarritz last month, just could not get going, and Ulster were content to play a percentage game with impressive efficiency. Jones though, was at the heart of Llanelli's best moments, and a penalty just before half-time edged his team ahead.
Humphreys' second long-range penalty tied things up at half-time, yet Ulster should have been ahead following another uncharacteristic Humphreys miss after Mustchin was tipped out of a lineout.
Llanelli had the second half's first scoring chance when flanker Simon Easterby charged down a Humphreys kick and Jones moved to within sight of Ulster's line.
Ulster then infringed during a spell of frantic defending, allowing Jones to complete his penalty hat-trick, which gave the Scarlets fresh heart. And Jones then showed his ability as an attacker, slicing open Ulster's midfield defence in scintillating fashion to send Watkins over for a try that sent Stradey Park wild.
Jones quickly booted his fourth penalty, while full-back Barry Davies had a try disallowed following a marginal forward pass as Ulster's challenge started to slip off the rails.
Another Jones strike sealed the deal, offering no way back for Ulster, before a night of prolonged celebration could begin in earnest, despite Neil McMillan's late consolation try, converted by Humphreys.
Other Celtic League results:
Connacht 3-20 Celtic Warriors
Borders 10-18 Munster
Leinster Lions 56-39 Dragons
Glasgow Rugby 34-31 Ospreys