Rugby/ Ulster 29 London Irish 13:From just six minutes into this win-or-bust Heineken European Cup match the nature of what the Ulster team were asking of themselves became clear.
The first penalty, well within David Humphreys's range, was determinedly kicked to touch for a lineout deep in the London Irish 22. Even so soon in the game Ulster were looking for the tries and bonus point that would rescue a European Cup season that had started so brightly at Ravenhill, in their match against Toulouse, and slowly faded. To the delight of 13,000 fans and after a frustrating first half they brought it back into focus.
While the home side began with the crowd at their backs and a greater amount of bluster and puff, it was London Irish who put the initial points on the board when Shane Geraghty kicked their first penalty after an Ulster infringement in a ruck.
But that small dent in Ulster ambitions was short-lived. Just three minutes later as they gathered for their next attack, Humphreys looked into his locker. From a sweeping move, the outhalf pulled out a sweet crossfield kick to the lurking Andrew Trimble on the left wing. While Trimble had to check slightly and slip a tackle in gathering the ball, Delon Armitage was lining him up, but the Exiles winger got only ankles as Trimble slid low for Ulster's first try.
It might have sparked off something more creative from the home camp but for the remainder of the half London Irish held their line and even when Ulster sent in prop Justin Fitzpatrick and secondrow Matt McCullough to try and tenderise it the Exiles defence held firm.
Hands in a ruck gave Geraghty a third opportunity to kick the visitors ahead; he had pulled his second kick well wide on 28 minutes. This time he was sure from a straighter angle and Ulster again trailed, 5-6.
Humphreys had a late chance to regain the lead again after number eight Juan Leguizamon handled on the ground, but his kick fell short and wide.
Territorially Ulster were on top, especially when scrumhalf Isaac Boss returned from a spell in the sinbin following a high tackle on Armitage. But worryingly not much was coming from it, and that was a real fear given their lack of guile and inventiveness in the first leg at the Madejski Stadim.
As the referee blew for half-time, London Irish must have been reasonably pleased that a first 40 minutes from Ulster in their sold-out home ground had yielded just one move of vision, and that from the oldest player in the side, Humphreys.
Things changed dramatically six minutes after the break. An offside gave Humphreys another penalty by the left sideline. As the Exiles moved toward the goal area, Humphreys tapped the ball and sprinted to the corner for try two before Justin Bishop could cover from the posts.
It was another fine piece of thinking from Humphreys, one that will surely embarrass the dozy London Irish defence come video-analysis time. But the score gave Ulster just the momentum they needed for the required four-try win.
Another penalty on 53 minutes put more daylight between the teams after Bob Casey and Matt McCullough squared up to each other, but Ulster needed more.
That soon came with substitute Neil McMillan when he gathered after more disarray in the Exiles defence.
A crossfield kick from Bryn Cunningham, a fluffed attempt by Armitage to gather on the ground, the ball squirting out, and Paul Steinmetz there to flick it back, giving the big forward the space for the third try and Humphreys's conversion with 20 minutes on the clock.
Although Gonzalo Tiesi hit back with a quick try for 22-13, the winning of the game lay with Ulster.
Humphreys set it up with a penalty to the corner with six minutes to go. Justin Harrison gathered, the maul rolled forward, and Casey pulled it down for a yellow card.
Another penalty and this time the ball was threaded out, Steinmetz wide left accelerating into the stretched Exiles defence and over for the fourth try.
So it went, the same final score as last week but in reverse. Ulster, seemingly lifeless in the first half, resurrected themselves in the second and in the process revived their European dream.
"Simon (Best) gave me the nudge. I was going to have a kick. I had my back to the line but Simon saw no one was at home and said let's go," explained Humphreys of his opportunist try.
"This shows the quality of the squad. We bounced back. You never look too far ahead playing a team like London Irish. We're still alive but if Llanelli win in Toulouse it's over."
SCORING SEQUENCE: 16 mins: S Geraghty pen 0-3; 19: A Trimble try 3-5; 31: Geraghty pen 5-6 (half-time 5-6); 44: Humphreys try and con 12-6; 53: Humphreys pen 15-6; 60: N McMillan try, Humphreys con 22-6; 63: G Tiesi try, Geraghty con 22-13; 78: Steinmetz try, Humphreys con 29-13.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; M Bartholomeusz, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Trimble; D Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best (capt); M McCullough, J Harrison; N Best, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: N McMillan for Dawson (53 mins); B Young for Fitzpatrick (64 mins); T Barker for McCullough (68 mins); K Campbell for Boss (79 mins).
LONDON IRISH: M Horak; D Armitage, S Mapusa, M Catt (capt), J Bishop; S Geraghty, P Hodgson; N Hatley, D Coetzee, T Lea'aetoa; N Kennedy, B Casey; K Roche, S Armitage, J Leguizamon. Replacements: G Tiesi for Catt (half-time); M Collins for Hatley (49 mins); D Paice for Coetzee (54 mins); B Everitt for Geraghty, J Hudson for Kennedy (both 68 mins).
Referee: C Berdos(France).
