After mixed fortunes on the road in recent weeks, Ulster ended their home Heineken Cup campaign on a high this afternoon, braving the elements to defeat Harlequins by 21 to 10.
Ulster got off to a dream start in the second minute when Darren Cave picked up the ball from the scrum, exposed a gap in the Harlequins' defence and ran over virtually unopposed. Ian Humphreys' conversion put the score at 7-0 with the Ulster shirts still pristine white.
Dynamic pushing in the ruck on seven minutes then gained Ulster some good ground, and French referee Romain Poite soon awarded a penalty after an infringement and dissent from Harlequins. Humphreys' kick was well-placed to make it 10-0.
After some amateur pugilism in an ugly brawl on the half-way line, the teams got back to playing rugby and Quins soon had a penalty attempt of their own, which Nick Evans failed to convert in the swirling wind. Ulster made good advances from the restart and were only contained by some determined tackling from the English backs.
On 25 minutes Simon Danielli had the supporters on their feet as he broke away down the left wing, but his kick on proved to be slightly overcooked as the ball ran out of play before the Scotsman, whose pace had outstripped that of his opponents, could touch it down. But further points were clocked up three minutes later with a sublime penalty by Humphreys all the way from the half-way line. Ulster were now cruising at 13-0.
Five minutes before the break Quins scrum-half Danny Care was yellow-carded for kicking the ball in the ruck, and as the driving rain got fiercer the visitors conceded another penalty, once again advanced up the field by the official for further dissent. Humphreys converted without difficulty in the last significant action of the first half.
Half-Time Score Score Ulster 16 Harlequins 0
Soon after the restart Harlequins notched up their first points with a penalty from Evans, but there was no real sign that the tide was going to turn as Ulster stayed in control in ever-worsening conditions.
The visitors started to pose a more significant threat on 55 minutes however, but were only thwarted by a timely Ulster interception a metre from the try-line. Minutes later though M. Poite awarded Harlequins a penalty try, converted by Evans to put the score at 16-10.
The match clearly wasn't over as a contest, and things began to look ominous on 70 minutes when Quins elected to play the ball from the scrum rather than take the points from the penalty. After a second infringement two minutes later, though, Evans opted to kick, but dragged his penalty across the face of goal to the delight of most of Ravenhill.
And the outcome was no longer in doubt two minutes before time when Rory Best kicked on a Stephen Ferris charge-down and, aided and abetted by Nigel Brady, got a significant touch on the ball to record the second home try of the match. Humphreys' missed conversion was of no consequence as a grateful Ulster boot found touch seconds later to bring the encounter to a close.
Full-time score Ulster 21 Harelequins 10
Ulster Team:
(15-9) Clinton Schifcofske; Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave, Paddy Wallace, Simon Danielli, Ian Humphreys, Isaac Boss
(1-8) Justin Fitzpatrick, Rory Best (Capt ), Tom Court, Ed O'Donoghue, Ryan Caldwell, Stephen Ferris, Kieron Dawson, Chris Henry
Replacements:
(16-22) Nigel Brady, Bryan Young, Matt McCullough, David Pollock, Paul Marshall, Paul Steinmetz, Bryn Cunningham
Harlequins Team:
(15-9) Mike Brown; Tom Williams; Gonzalo Tiesi; Jordan Turner-Hall; Charlie Amesbury; Nick Evans; Danny Care
(1-8) Ceri Jones; Chris Booker; Mike Ross; James Percival; George Robson; Chris Robshaw; Will Skinner (Capt); Nick Easter
Replacements:
(16-22) Aston Croall; Mark Lambert; Jim Evans; Tom Guest; Andy Gomarsall; Chris Malone; Epi Taione
