WATCH: 'It's a joke' - Controversial penalty try and new tackle laws deny Ulster victory over Scarlets

Ulster players react following their defeat in the Guinness PRO12 Round 13 match between Scarlets and Ulster at Parc Y Scarlets in Llanelli, Wales. Photo by Ben Evans/Sportsfile

Independent.ie Newsdesk

World Rugby’s new tackle laws caused huge controversy at the Parc Y Scarlets last night as Ulster lost 16-13 to the Scarlets after conceding a highly dubious penalty try.

Ulster led 13-6 at the break thanks to an incisive try from young Jacob Stockdale but failed to score in an incident-packed second half.

Under the new rules, players making contact with an opponent’s head in “reckless tackles” now receive at least a yellow card.

In the 61st minute of the game, Ulster's Sean Reidy was binned for a high tackle as he stopped Scarlets scrumhalf Aled Davies from crossing the tryline.

Davies was stopped short of the line but after referee Marius Mitrea consulted the TMO, he issued a yellow card to Reidy and awarded the Welsh side a penalty try.

Ulster director or rugby, Les Kiss, insisted last night they had “no grudge” or were “whinging” about Mitrea who was applying the new laws

“That is the new world we are living in. We are going to have to find a new way to live with it and adapt to it.

Scarlets second row Jake Ball was also yellow carded for a high tackle two minutes later, prompting a period of pressure from Ulster but Scarlets stood firm and held out for the crucial win.

The result means that Ulster are now seven points behind fourth-placed Scarlets in the final Pro12 playoff spot.

Watch the penalty try incident  and Ball's tackle below and make up your own mind:

The decisions resulted in a lot of reaction on social media: