Celtic League/ Border Reivers 0 Ulster 27: Ulster gave themselves a massive confidence lift ahead of their opening European Cup home match against Treviso next weekend with an impressive victory over Border Reivers at Netherdale on Saturday to keep their Celtic League challenge very much on the boil.
It was a performance that earned plaudits from all quarters and not least from opposition coach Steve Bates who described Ulster's play as "the best seen at Netherdale this season".
Such was the dominance of Ulster throughout the match that Bates admitted his Borders side "did well to keep the scoreline to what it was". Bates added: "Ulster were better in all phases. I thought that David Humphreys controlled the game masterfully. He kicked, and kicked accurately, when there was nothing on and attacked the gain line at pace when he had the opportunity. It was a compelling performance from Humphreys".
Few would demur. Humphreys ruled in a way no other outhalf has been able to at Netherdale this season where Border Reivers, under the tutelage of former Lion, Alan Tait, have prided themselves on having an organised defence. Morever the Ireland international outhalf again emphasised his deadly accuracy with the boot by kicking five goals from five attempts.
The destruction of Border Reivers was, however, achieved in the forward battle where the Ulster eight were more dynamic in the backrow with Neil Best and Roger Wilson frequently catching the eye.
Yet for all their first-half territorial dominance Ulster were able to score points only after Borders lost two players to the sin-bin. First Scotland scrumhalf Chris Cusiter was despatched to the touchline towards the end of the first quarter for illegally preventing the ball being recycled, allowing Humphreys to kick an easy penalty goal, and then centre Ben MacDougall was yellow carded for a similar offence five minutes before half-time.
It was during MacDougall's absence that Ulster scored their first try, a touchdown in the corner by flanker Neil Best after a series of close-range attacks. Humphreys' touchline conversion extracted maximum points for a 10-0 interval lead.
Ulster began the second half at high tempo and were rewarded with points eight minutes after the restart with a try by James Topping. Humphreys added the conversion goal and then a second penalty to put the game beyond the reach of Borders.
There was still time for a further score. This time Topping breached the Borders defence and two phases later Issac Boss burst onto the ball before sprinting to the line, leaving Humphreys to sign off a fine victory with his third conversion goal.
Ulster: Tries N Best, Topping, Boss Cons Humphreys (3) Pens Humphreys (2).
BORDER REIVERS: C MacRae; S Danielli (S Moffat 76), B MacDougall, G Law, N Walker; C Hore, C Cusiter; P Thomson, R Ford (S Scott 50), B Douglas, M Blair (J Dalziel 61), C Stewart, A Rennick (S Gray 50), A Miller (W McEntee 61), K Brown.
ULSTER: B Cunnningham (P Wallace 73); T Bowe, K Maggs, A Trimble, J Topping; D Humphreys, K Campbell (I Boss 40); J Fitzpatrick (B Young 69), R Best (P Shields 73), S Best, J Harrison, M McCullough (R Frost 72), N Best, R Wilson (S Ferris 72), N McMillan.
Referee: P Fear (Wales).
