The visitors launched onto the offensive right from the off, but determined Ulster tackling kept them at bay during a full four minutes of sustained attacking. However Leinster were the first to score with a well-taken penalty from Felipe Contepomi on seven minutes.

The match then stuttered to something of a halt for ten minutes with neither side making any headway until a second penalty attempt from Contepomi, which proved to be slightly too far out for the centre to convert accurately. Then Robbie Diack led a great chase on 17 minutes, kicking forward a loose ball and racing for the Leinster line, only to be called back by referee George Clancy for an earlier infringement.

The surge served as a statement of Ulster's intent though, as seven minutes later Darren Cave broke through down the left wing and raced over for a fine individual try. Ian Humphreys converted to put Ulster ahead at 7-3.

But the current Magner's League title-holders are nothing if not resilient and launched straight back onto the attack. Their pressure never really looked like being converted into points though, with Ulster tackling first-class both in midfield and the final third. And when they did get the chance to reduce the gap on 38 minutes after the award of a long-distance penalty, Contepomi's kick again fell short.

As the teams trotted off to the relative warmth of the changing rooms at half-time, the capacity Ravenhill crowd were left hoping for rather more incident in the second period.

Leinster started the second half more brightly and were rewarded for their patient build-up on 44 minutes with flanker Rocky Elsom grounding a try which was converted to turn the tables in their favour at 10-7. Humphreys had the chance to restore parity three minutes later with a penalty from a tight angle, but screwed his kick narrowly wide.

An excellent catch and clearance from Andrew Trimble then got Ulster deep back into the opposition half, and never-say-die marauding from Stephen Ferris eventually led to a Leinster infringement and the award of another penalty on 52 minutes, which Humphreys this time executed to perfection.

At 10-10 the tie was now up for grabs. Ulster soaked up the inevitable Leinster pressure for five minutes until a knock-on gave the impetus back to the home team. Possession was soon relinquished however and a simple penalty right in front of the posts for Contepomi on 61 minutes put the visitors back in control.

Another great raid from Ferris on 65 minutes was then illegally halted directly in front of the Leinster goal, and Humphreys had no difficulty slotting over the resulting penalty to make the score 13 apiece.

On 70 minutes however a Leinster interception deep in the Ulster half allowed substitute Stephen Keogh to go over and put the score at 13-18. Worse came four minutes later when another easy penalty for Contepomi cemented the lead at 13-21.

The clock had wound down to zero by the time Mr Clancy awarded Humphreys the final penalty of the evening on the half-way line, but his effort landed short of the posts, bringing the evening to a disappointing end for Ulster fans more used recently to comprehensive home victories.

Full Time Score Ulster 13 Leinster 21

Ulster Team: (15-9) Bryn Cunningham, Timoci Nagusa, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble, Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss; (1-8) Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best (captain), Brendon Botha, Ed O'Donoghue, Matt McCullough, Stephen Ferris David Pollock, Robbie Diack.

Replacements: (16-22) Nigel Brady, Tom Court, Thomas Anderson, Kieron Dawson, Paul Marshall, Paul Steinmetz, Clinton Schifcofske.

Leinster Team: (15-9) Girvan Dempsey, Gordon D'Arcy, Luke Fitzgerald, Felipe Contepomi, Rob Kearney, Isa Nacewa, Chris Whitaker (captain); (1-8) Cian Healy,
John Fogarty, Stan Wright, Trevor Hogan, Devin Toner, Rocky Elsom, Sean O'Brien, Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: (16-22) Brian Blaney, Ronan McCormack, Malcolm O'Kelly, Stephen Keogh, Chris Keane, Jonathan Sexton, Simon Keogh