Celtic Warriors - 0 Ulster - 28: Ulster maintained their charge for a Celtic League and Cup double with an emphatic display at rain-soaked Bridgend last night. The league leaders ensured the title race was narrowed to a three-horse race by disposing of fourth-placed Celtic Warriors with relative ease.
Ulster's away form had threatened to undermine their title push following defeats at Glasgow and Newport, but 18 points from David Humphreys, including one of his side's three tries and an impenetrable defence, kept their progress on track.
With Gary Longwell already out, Ulster's second row problems worsened early on when Matt Mustchin broke his wrist, but the injury did nothing to knock them off their stride as they cantered into an 18-0 lead with surprising ease.
Indeed there was an unnatural feel about the early stages of a sodden game, with Neil Jenkins, who recently set an as yet unofficial world record of 44 consecutive kicks, had the crowd rubbing their eyes in disbelief after missing his first two attempts, while Ulster hardly broke into a sweat as they racked up their points.
Shane Stewart got the scoreboard moving by executing the simplest of moves with precision by cutting onto former All Black centre Paul Steinmetz's flat pass with an acute angle that split the Warriors defence to score after 15 minutes.
Humphreys converted, and soon added two penalties before Ulster strolled over for a second within half an hour when flanker Neil McMillan went over in the corner.
Humphreys then took total control as the game become bogged down in the second half mud, though he was allowed to conduct events amid a rock-solid defence that soaked up a blunted Warriors attack missing several key figures.
That defence provided the bedrock for Ulster's third try following a Rod Moore turnover in midfield after repelling several phases. Possession was spun wide to launch the counter-attack, and when Andy Ward was hauled down, Steinmetz flicked the ball along the ground to the unmarked Humphreys who strolled over to wrap up a satisfactory night's work.
CELTIC WARRIORS: G Wyatt; R Mustoe, S James, J Bryant (capt), D James (M Nuthall, 11-27); N Jenkins, P John; C Loader (G Morris, 70), M Rees, M Jones, D Jones (N Kelly, 67), R Sidoli, R Jones, R Bryan, C Harris (R Parks, 53).
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping (K Campbell, 75), S Stewart, P Steinmetz, S Young; D Humphreys (A Larkin, 75), N Doak; S Best, M Sexton, R Moore (R McCormack, 76), M Mustchin (R Frost, 11), M McCullough, A Ward (capt), R Wilson, N McMillan (N Best, 77).
Referee: G Davies (Scotland)
Delegates from all three AIB League divisions appear to be achieving a sense of unity following a "constructive" meeting on Thursday night, after which the first division delegates restated their commitment to a competitive All-Ireland League and "to work in harmony with their second and third division colleagues to agree a structure for all clubs with promotion and relegation".
The second and third division delegates, meanwhile, will not be mandated by their clubs until a joint meeting of March 31st, but nevertheless "welcomed the positive dialogue and agreed to work in co-operation with the first division clubs to find the best way forward for Irish rugby".
