Celtic League/Ulster - 43 Ospreys - 7: Ulster returned to the top of the Magners League with a stunning four-try romp over 2005 champions Neath Swansea Ospreys at a raucous Ravenhill last night.
The crowd of 10,804 - the biggest of the season to date - were royally entertained by the reigning champions, who boasted grunt up front and ruthless finesse behind to reclaim top spot from Llanelli, who take on Leinster at Stradey Park tonight.
With Andrew Trimble and Neil Best still set to return to the province next week from their national conditioning programme, Mark McCall's side will travel to face Heineken European Cup champions Munster in Cork next Saturday in great heart.
Ospreys coach Lyn Jones was left to ponder how his side had been outplayed so comprehensively after promising wins over Cardiff and Borders.
Following their rather flat performance against Edinburgh last Friday, Ulster began the contest clearly intent on making amends for slipping to their first Celtic League defeat of 2006.
It wasn't pretty for much of the first half and there was little of the wide game that marked their opening two wins but Ulster's energy and work-rate simply strangled the Ospreys, who had arrived seeking their third successive Celtic League victory.
The visitors persevered with the out-of-sorts Gavin Henson at outhalf and the Welsh star gave Ravenhill a glimpse of the magic that has long been missing from his game by slicing through the home side's midfield and finding James Hook, whose clever off-load put Lee Byrne over for the opening try in the 10th minute.
It was to prove a rare highlight for the Ospreys.
David Humphreys proved their main tormentor during the opening period, slotting four penalties - two from his own half - and a sweet touchline conversion following a well-worked try by Rory Best in the 28th minute from a well-worked lineout move involving Stephen Ferris.
By half-time the visitors were down to 13 men, with Ryan Jones and Alun Wynn Jones in the sinbin, and more ominously, the game already looked beyond them as they trailed by 12 points.
Moments after Ryan Jones returned to restore the visitors to 14 men, Ulster struck again with a sizzling try by Tommy Bowe on his first appearance of the season.
The big wing glided over for a 47th minute try from a cute inside pass by Paddy Wallace after Rory Best had made a surging break up the touchline.
It was the sign for Ulster to cut loose. Humphreys banged over his fifth penalty and Paul Steinmetz raced over for a try in the 63rd minute after another punching break by Boss.
Ulster clinched the bonus point when Paul Steinmetz pounced on a loose ball and put Neil McMillan over in the 69th minute, with Humphreys adding the conversion.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6 mins: D Humphreys pen, 3-0; 10: L Byrne try, J Hook con, 3-7; 14: Humphreys pen, 6-7; 28: R Best try, Humphreys con, 13-7; 35: Humphreys pen, 16-7; 37: Humphreys pen, 19-7; 47: T Bowe try, Humphreys con, 26-7; 56: Humphreys pen, 29-7; 62: P Steinmetz try, Humphreys con, 36-7; 69: N McMillan try, Humphreys con, 43-7.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; M Bartholomeusz, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best, B Young; J Harrison, T Barker; S Ferris, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: M McCullough for Barker, T Bowe for Maxwell (both 43 mins), K Maggs for Wallace (61 mins), N McMillan for Ferris (63 mins), P Shields for R Best (67 mins), K Campbell for Boss (70 mins), D Fitzpatrick for J Fitzpatrick (72 mins).
OSPREYS: L Byrne; N Walker, S Parker, J Hook, R Mustoe; G Henson, J Marshall; D Jones, B Williams, A Jones; AW Jones, I Evans; J Thomas, R Pugh, R Jones. Replacements: S Terblanche for Mustoe (27-37), E Shervington for Williams, B Cockbain for AW Jones (both 63 mins), P James for A Jones (70 mins), A Bishop for Byrne (74 mins). Yellow cards: R Jones and A Wynn Jones
Referee: P Allan (SRU).
