Ulster - 13 Biarritz - 9:Don't count them out. The Irish pioneers of the continental competition may yet have their say in the destination of this year's trophy. Last night's victory over a Biarritz side glittering with Gallic talent was borne of pure character.
By the close of the evening, the French looked a tired and shattered side. Freezing cold nights at Ravenhill are where teams earn and forfeit bragging rights. This match bore all the hallmarks of an ambush, with Ulster sucking up everything Biarritz had and then hitting them in the last quarter.
David Humphreys' penalty in the 78th minute, after Phillippe Bidabe was whistled for deliberately playing the ball offside, gave Ulster breathing space after a tense 18-minute period when they resolutely defended a one-point lead.
It was a typically assured kick by Humphreys and a brave way to close a game during which he was chased by poltergeists. Bad enough that he pulled two first-half penalties that he normally slots in his sleep, the outhalf was also involved in a couple of sloppy passing mistakes. Against that, his cover was superb and he kicked to touch with his trademark precision and intelligence.
For a long time though, it looked as if the outhalf's early crisis might cost Ulster dearly. The home team commanded a lot of possession in the first half without seriously troubling their opponents. Biarritz brought caution with them to Belfast and sat back, happy to snipe at Ulster's mistakes. In the first period, it paid off handsomely.
On 19 minutes, Serge Betsen hacked on a spilled Ulster pass and, from the scrum, Julien Peyrelongue dropped a goal in leisurely fashion. That score came just three minutes after a Dimitri Yachvile penalty.
What followed was Ulster's worst phase, with even Andy Ward, forceful and lively, fumbling a relatively simple take from Bidabe.
The break Ulster needed came off a mistake. For the first half-hour their lineout was rock solid, but when Matt Sexton overcooked a long throw towards Davidson, Christophe Milheres grabbed possession and set his back line in motion. Yachville was thinking three passes ahead when he threw to Peyrelongue and in stepped James Topping to canter home from the halfway line. Ravenhill erupted. Humphreys nailed the simple conversion.
"I had to go for it or it would have been a try at the other end," said Topping of his marvellous steal later. "There was no way we could have defended it so I just took my life in my hands."
Adam Larkin, who replaced the unfortunate Ryan Constable in the first minute, almost had another interception on the tentative French full back Nicolas Brusque on 38 minutes. But Biarritz drove forward, winning a penalty that Yachville drilled for a half-time lead of 9-7.
Ulster showed patience and maturity in regaining the lead. After a gorgeous Humphreys kick to touch just metres from the French line after the restart, they endured a long period in defence. The Biarritz pack, outmuscled and outsmarted in the first period, initiated a series of rolling mauls and drives which might have yielded points. When Ulster finally broke into their opponents' half, Biarritz immediately conceded a penalty. This time Humphreys' kick was true.
Over the last 15 minutes, there was more urgency to the French game. Gary Longwell put in a massive hit on Peyrelongue and Sexton, Ward and Robbie Kempson again and again repelled the French attempts to burrow down the centre. Betsen threatened with a burst of speed along the wing with 10 minutes remaining, but with time ticking it was Ulster who were able to sit and make their visitors come and win it.
By this stage, Ravenhill was singing its familiar chorus. Bidabe and Brusque both spilled up-and-unders in the dying seconds, much to the gratification of the home crowd. On such nights seasons turn.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, R Constable, J Bell, S Young; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, M Sexton, R Kempson; G Longwell, J Davidson; W Brosnihan, N McMillan; A Ward (capt). Replacements: A Larkin for R Constable (1 min inj), S Coulter for J Bell (78 mins).
BIARRITZ: N Brusque; P Barnat-Salles, M Stcherbina, J Isaac, P Bidabe; J Peyrelongue, D Yachville; E Menieu, J-M Gonalez, D Avril; D Counzinet, J-P Versailles; S Betsen, C Milheres; E Menieu. Replacements: O Roumat for JP Versailles (54 mins).
Referee: T Spreadbury (England).
