RUGBY/Celtic League/Neath Swansea Ospreys 17 Ulster 19: There couldn't have been a more appropriate author of Ulster rugby's finest triumph since their European Cup win in 1999 than David Humphreys.
The 35-year-old outhalf penned a remarkable epilogue not alone to this match but also to Ulster's season, his beautifully struck, 40-metre drop goal - via first the right upright and then the left - two minutes from time, the final plot twist.
The architect of so many great moments in his province's history, he's now got another one for the scrapbook.
It was far from a vintage encounter, the game often a morass of errors, but that won't matter to Ulster. They turned up to a man, every one contributing, although Roger Wilson, Neil Best and Andrew Trimble probably were the pick.
They deserved this triumph for character and guts alone and, but for a crucial lack of composure on a couple of occasions, would have rendered it a far less frenetic experience in Swansea.
A nice little aside for Ulster is that they will enter this summer's draw for the 2006-2007 European Cup as number one seeds from Ireland.
"It's marvellous for everyone concerned with Ulster rugby," said a beaming Ulster coach Mark McCall. "It's been a great season and we've probably come though a little quicker than even we anticipated. We brought through some very good young players and they have emerged with great credit."
And what of his match winner?
"Well it speaks volumes for David as a person and a player. He misses a couple of penalties that he would expect to get and then drops a goal from 40 metres."
The Ospreys were bright and positive from the opening whistle and should have taken the lead after two minutes when flanker Jonathan Thomas carelessly spilled the ball over the Ulster line.
The visitors should have heeded the warning but the lesson was hammered home on seven minutes.
Shane Williams and Gavin Henson made the initial headway, but it was a couple of secondrows who made the definitive line breaks. Alun-Wyn Jones loped into the visitors' 22 and found fellow lock Lyndon Bateman in support, and the latter threw a superb, long pass to allow wing Jonathan Vaughton scamper over unopposed.
Ulster didn't buckle but their recovery was facilitated by the Welsh side's indiscipline. Humphreys kicked a superb, long-range penalty, a fitting reward for the visitors' enterprise epitomised by the powerful running of Stephen Ferris, Andrew Trimble and Andrew Maxwell and the livewire Isaac Boss at scrumhalf.
When the Ospreys hooker and captain, Barry Williams, dropped a Bryn Cunningham up-and-under, it led to a try. A scrum and three rucks later, Ulster secondrow Matt McCullough plunged over from about a yard. Humphreys tagged on the conversion and posted another 40-metre penalty to push Ulster ahead 13-7 after 26 minutes.
The game was pockmarked by errors on both sides. After a Henson penalty, what might have proved the seminal moment arrived seconds into injury time, once again coming from a crass Ospreys error. Trimble latched onto the loose ball 50 metres from the Welsh side's line and after racing 20 metres looked to release Maxwell for a certain try. Unfortunately Humphreys chose the wrong moment to arrive between his team-mates and knocked the ball on.
Ulster lifted a siege early in the second half with excellent cover defence and discipline, and then won a fortuitous penalty at a ruck. To the gasps of the visiting supporters, Humphreys struck a post from 22 metres just to the left of the uprights.
Ulster needed to be patient and precise, as the Ospreys resembled an accident waiting to happen, largely because of their wantonness in possession. A Spice fumble on 62 minutes allowed Ferris to snatch possession and offload to Trimble, who was hauled down metres from the line. Jonathan Thomas killed the ball and received a yellow card, and Humphreys completed the double whammy by posting the easy penalty.
Then the Ospreys produced the first moment of sheer precision in the game. Thomas tapped down a lineout inside the Ulster 22 to the onrushing Jason Spice, who raced through a gap for a well worked try.
Henson added the conversion and Ulster's fate seemed sealed - until Humphreys stepped up in every sense of the phrase.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 7mins: Vaughton try, Henson conversion, 7-0; 12: Humphreys penalty, 7-3; 17: McCullough try, Humphreys conversion, 7-10; 26: Humphreys penalty, 7-13; 35: Henson penalty, 10-13. Half-time: 10-13. 64: Humphreys penalty, 10-16; 75: Spice try, Henson conversion, 17-16; 78: Humphreys drop goal, 17-19.
OSPREYS: G Henson; J Vaughton, S Parker, A Bishop, S Williams; S Connor, J Spice; P James, B Williams (capt), A Jones; A Wyn Jones, I Evans; J Bater, J Thomas, L Beach. Replacements: R Hibbard for B Williams (50 mins); A Newman for Wyn-Jones (50 mins); R Pugh for Bater (57 mins); M Jones for Connor (57 mins); A Millward for A Jones (57 mins); D Jones for James (64 mins); S Terblanche for S Williams (77 mins). Sin Bin: J Thomas 63-73 mins.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, B Young; J Harrison (capt), M McCullough; N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson. Replacements: K Campbell for Boss (48 mins); N McMillan for Ferris (62 mins).
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland).
