Ulster's first European Cup victory of the season wasn't so much a demolition job of Ebbw Vale, but a case of humiliating the Welshmen in their own picturesque backyard.

It was probably Ulster's best performance of the season. However, despite the romp, coach, Harry Williams, freely admits that there are still one or two wrinkles to iron out before they can claim to be back on the road after a disappointing run over the past four weeks.

But the win against a poor and demoralised Ebbw Vale was more than a useful exercise in which self esteem and confidence were regained. The two points gleaned from the game in which there were many excellent individual performances, pushed them back into the picture in Pool C, alongside Edinburgh and Toulouse.

Ulster can look forward to facing the Frenchmen next Friday at Ravenhill in a positive frame of mind particularly with their hopes of a quarter-final slot now rekindled.

Williams, frustrated after his side crashed to Munster the previous week said: "That was a much better performance. But we still have to work on a few things. We are not the perfect model just yet. But at least we can look forward to the game against Toulouse with a lot more confidence."

Vale skipper Kingsley Jones, the Welsh international flanker said Ulster were very focussed on doing the basics first and then taking their chances when they came.

"They were an abrasive side," said Jones, whose team only really threatened Ulster through two soft tries midway through the second half when the score was 40-28.

"Quite honestly I was very disappointed by our performance and the way things turned out. This tournament doesn't seem to mean a lot to our players. They just couldn't lift their game. But you could put that down to the opposition. They did the simple things well and scored when the opportunity arose."

Ulster's two heroes were Simon Mason, the impeccable Geordie-born kicking machine, and skipper David Humphreys who as well as collecting two cheeky opportunist tries, ran the show in the manner one expects from an international player.

But while Humphreys' kicking was tactically brilliant, and a bonus to a rampant pack, Mason's metronomical swing of the boot was phenomenal.

No matter the position, distance or angle, Mason split the uprights. Eleven kicks at goal: four penalties, seven conversions for a personal tally of 26 points.

But while five of those touchdowns were conceived and scored by the backs, they would be first to give the credit to their pack who finally raised their game to stifle a bigger and heavy opposition eight.

Particularly outstanding was the back-row. Andy Ward was at his best before retiring late on following a clash of heads.

Number eight Tony McWhirter had a big game and will challenge Lion Eric Miller when he arrives for the final inter-provincial of the season against Connacht. Stephen McKinty continues to amaze with his athleticism. After Williams decided to rest four extremely tired players after the Munster game, McKinty was left as the only part-time player. But he showed his worth and all-round fitness when he swooped for a try after a flowing movement in the 76th minute.

Mark Blair, making his first start of the season, also wrapped up a solid performance when he barged over for a try while replacement winger Andy Park wrapped up matters with Ulster's third try in the space of the last 10 minutes as Ebbw Vale's lack of fitness told.

Ulster, with calm assuredness opened out a match-winning 3313 half-time advantage. Centre Jonathan Bell and scrum-half Stephen Bell and the first of Humphreys' efforts put Ebbw Vale to the sword. Humphreys' try came when a frustrated Vale attempted to attack on the half-way line, but when the ball hit the deck Humphreys hacked through and beat the lively Tongan international Suia Taumalolo to the touchdown.

His second score in the 56th minute was even cheekier: he blocked a chip and chase by Welsh international Byron Hayward, caught the rebound and skipped in under the posts from 22 metres.

Scoring sequence - 1 min: Mason penalty, 0-3; 3: Hayward penalty, 3-3; 7: Mason penalty, 3-6; 11: J Bell try, Mason conversion, 3-13; 16: Hayward penalty, 6-13; 21: Humphreys try, Mason conversion, 6-20; 24: S Bell try, Mason conversion, 6-27; 30: Mason penalty, 6-30; 38: Mason penalty, 6-33; 40: penalty try, Hayward conversion, 13-33; 45: Hayward penalty, 16-33; 56: Humphreys try, Mason conversion, 16-40; 58: Manley try, 21-40; 66: Taumalolo try, Hayward conversion; 28-40; 70: Blair try, Mason conversion, 28-47; 76: McKinty try, Mason conversion; 28-54; 80: Park try, Mason conversion, 28-61.

ULSTER - S Mason; J Cunningham, J Bell, C van Rensburg, S Coulter; D Humphreys, capt, S Bell; J Fitzpatrick, A Clarke, R Irwin, G Longwell, M Blair, S McKinty, T McWhirter, A Ward. Replacements: A Matchett for S Bell, 40 mins; A Park for J Bell, 40 mins; G Leslie for Irwin, 64 mins; D Topping for McWirter, 40 mins; S Duncan for Ward, 76 mins.

EBBW VALE - S Taumalolo; D Manley, G Williams, J Strange, C Landry; B Hayward, D Llewellyn; A Phillips, R Campbell, A Metcalfe, L Banks, K Faletau, M Spiller, M Jones, K Jones, capt. Replacements: C Billen for Banks, 40 mins; G Green for Phillips, 53 mins; I Thomas for Spiller, 53 mins.

Referee - C White (RFU).