Celtic League/ Border Reivers 9 Ulster 33: Ulster returned to winning ways in the Magners Celtic League with victory over bottom-placed Border Reivers at Netherdale last night to lift hopes of retaining their title.
But they had to work hard until the the last 10 minutes, when Borders capitulated and allowed Ulster run in two tries.
Ulster might have made their class tell earlier, but Reivers, urged on by the largest crowd of the season eager to protest against the decision to shut down their team, showed enormous resistance in defence.
Ulster's brisk start signalled early points, and a series of probing runs and quick recycling of the ball ended with Ryan Caldwell breaking free before supplying the scoring pass to flanker Stephen Ferris.
David Humphreys stroked the easy conversion, but a seven-point lead became four when Steven Jones for Borders slotted a penalty kick from near the touchline.
Ulster hit back quickly, this time through a Humphreys penalty goal, but the battle of the kickers continued as Jones replied with a similar effort after some inspirational running from centre Ben MacDougall.
A late tackle sent the Borders scrumhalf Chris Cusiter flying into touch and thumping into press photographer David Gibson, the touchline casualty being taken to the medical room with a dislocated kneecap.
Humphreys settled into familiar kicking rhythm with his second penalty goal to give Ulster a 13-6 half-time lead.
Borders looked purposeful starting the second half but should have made more of their numerical advantage against an Ulster team reduced to 14 after lock Caldwell had been binned for slow release in the tackle.
Ulster rode that storm but there was no mistake when Jones put over a long-range kick to cut the lead to just four points.
It was the trigger for a Borders revival, ignited by a clever kick from Jones that was taken by winger Doug Flockhart, only for Ulster to track him down. When the ball was recycled Borders thrust at the Ulster line but could not break through.
Having survived a series of Border raids, Ulster then returned to attacking ways and all but scored a second try when Paddy Wallace made the running before putting in an overhead pass to Rory Best. The Ireland hooker seemed on track for a score but was stopped bv Borders wing Garry Law.
But referee Tim Hayes had spotted an infringement, giving Humphreys his fourth goal of the match. The outhalf then made it five from five with a monstrous effort from near halfway to put his side ahead 19-9 with six minutes remaining.
Borders tried to respond but winger Andy Maxwell intercepted and ran 80 metres for a try under the posts before Ireland centre Andrew Trimble provided the scoring pass for fullback Bryn Cunningham to stroll over unopposed, Humphreys knocking over his third conversion for a 16-point tally.
BORDER REIVERS: S Moffat; D Flockhart, B MacDougall, N De Luca, G Law; S Jones, C Cusiter (capt); G Kerr, R Ford, B Douglas; O Palepoi, C Hamilton; J Dalziel, A Miller, K Brown. Replacements: S Grimes for Hamilton, S Scott for Ford (both 53 minutes).
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (capt); J Harrison, Ryan Caldwell; S Ferris, N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: T Barker for Caldwell, J Fitzpatrick for Young (both 60 minutes), K Campbell for Boss, D Cave for Wallace (both 75 minutes),
Referee: T Hayes(Wales).
