Ulster 36 Munster 13Munster brought Christian Cullen to Ravenhill like some avenger intent on reversing the hurt done last October when Ulster travelled to Musgrave Park to defeat them 16-15.

For the New Zealand full back the weather even conformed. Dry and mild at Ravenhill Road for a running pitch, it was to be a simple script for Munster. But Ulster quickly put paid to any grandiose Munster intentions as they ran in four tries in a second-half 15-minute spell.

And after defeats for Gwent Dragons and Celtic Warriors last night, Ulster go top of the table.

It was the home side that took hold of the game following a well-observed minute's silence as a mark of respect for the late Cormac McAnallen. As Munster anxiously backed off, Ulster squeezed with Adam Larkin landing a simple penalty after just six minutes for a 3-0 lead.

For the following 20 minutes, that continued to be the complexion of the match and even with Mossie Lawlor kicking Munster back to level terms after 15 minutes, it was Ulster's recycling and yardage that gave them a clear upper hand.

Captain Andy Ward, back from his week off following 23 consecutive matches, led the pack with vigour while Neil Best's athleticism and Matt McCullough and Matt Mustchin in the lineouts caused Munster all sorts of possession problems.

Larkin too had on his kicking boots and launched several long punts to touch as well as threading through a couple low on the ground to repeatedly send Munster back into their 22.

Continuity was clearly a problem for the visitors and when the ball was killed in another ruck, Larkin added his second and then a third penalty from close range for a comfortable 9-3 lead.

But Ulster could hardly have been pleased with the points return from their territorial dominance and while Munster essayed only two worthwhile breaks from their own half, they earned penalties from both, which Lawlor landed, the second after 35 minutes.

First-half injury time brought Ulster their best chance when Shane Stewart delivered to loose-head Ronan McCormack who was lurking out on the left wing. With just a catch and couple of paces to run into unmanned ground the prop fumbled.

A minute later Bryn Cunningham's drop-goal effort floated off and a fifth Larkin penalty slipped wide, the whistle closing the half with a frustrated Ulster 9-6 ahead.

It was not until after 50 minutes that Munster finally found their offensive game. Inevitably it had to come at some point and just as it did Ulster finally struck. A high pass to Lawlor on the right wing going forward into the home side's 22 was fluffed and centre Shane Stewart was there to feed off it. His 50-yard dash was covered by Cullen but replacement Paddy Wallace was on Stewart's shoulder and ran the final 30 for Ulster's first try.

Two minutes later it was openside Neil McMillen who galloped over on the right as Munster had barely adjusted to the first try. Those two minutes turned the screw even tighter and from there on Munster went into damage-limitation mode as Ulster sensed their dominance and Munster scrambled.

That was perilous for the visitors given there were about 20 minutes remaining and when Matt Sexton made it look all too easy to trundle over from an Ulster lineout on 67 minutes, which Wallace again converted, a bonus point became likely.

That came with surely one of the tries of the season. Started and finished by Scott Young, it began in the Ulster 22 and went through seven pairs of hands with Mustchin handling twice, Wallace showing a sublime touch and Young taking it in.

Munster grabbed a late consolation try when replacement scrumhalf Frank Murphy sniped off the side of a ruck to touch down before Lawlor added the conversion.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 6 mins: A Larkin pen 3-0; 15: M Lawlor pen 3-3; 20: Larkin pen 6-3; 24: Larkin pen 9-3; 35: M Lawlor pen 9-6; Half-time. 43: Larkin pen 12-6; 59: P Wallace try 17-6; 61: N McMillen try, P Wallace con 24-6; 67: M Sexton try, Wallace con 31-6; 73: S Young try 36-6; 77: F Murphy try, Lawlor con 36-13.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, P Steinmetz, S Young; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore, M Mustchin, M McCullough, N Best, N McMillen, A Ward (capt). Replacements: P Wallace for Cunningham (54 mins); B Young and M Sexton for McCormack and Shields (59 mins); W Brosnihan for Best (70 mins); S Mallon for Stewart (75 mins).

MUNSTER: C Cullen; M Lawlor, J Kelly, R Henderson, A Horgan; J Holland, E Reddan; F Roche, J Flannery, G McIlwham, T Hayes, D Pusey, S Keogh, D Wallace, J Williams (capt). Replacements: F Murphy for Reddan (59 mins); S Payne for Horgan (64 mins0.

Referee: G Simmonds (Wales).