Magical Ulster sail past Ospreys and go top

Ulster 43 Ospreys 7

The home side pulled away coming up to half-time with fly-half David Humphreys in majestic kicking form contributing 23 points.

After an encouraging start by Ulster, with Humphreys floating over an easy penalty, poor midfield defence allowed a slimmed-down Gavin Henson to float through a gap before full-back Lee Byrne dived in at the corner in the seventh minute.

James Hook converted before Humphreys landed a wind-assisted second penalty from five metres inside his own half.

Ulster edged ahead in the 27th minute with a well-worked line-out move. Scrum-half Isaac Boss reversed play back to hooker Rory Best, who rumbled over in the corner. Humphreys added the touchline conversion.

Ospreys number eight Ryan Jones was yellow-carded in the 33rd minute for continually lying on the ball. Humphreys took full advantage with a 48-metre penalty and made further use of the wind with a second effort from well inside his own half to put his side 19-7 ahead.

The visitors’ problems were further exacerbated when Alun Wyn Jones followed Jones to the bin for blatant obstruction on the lively Boss. For once Humphreys was off-target.

Ulster began the second half in exquisite style with Best making a charge down the left wing, and after a flurry of passes out right, Paddy Wallace flipped an inside pass to second-half replacement Tommy Bowe to glide in with Humphreys adding the extra points.

A brilliant break by Boss on the hour set up Paul Steinmetz for Ulster’s third try and eight minutes later, replacement Neil McMillan swallow-dived in for the bonus touchdown. Humphreys converted both.

ULSTER: B Cunningham, M Bartholemeusz, P Steinmetz, P Wallace, A Maxwell, D Humphreys, I Boss; J Fitzpatrick, R Best (capt), B Young, J Harrison, capt, T Barker, S Ferris, K Dawson, R Wilson.

Replacements: P Shields for Best (66), D Fitzpatrick for J Fitzpatrick (70), M McCullough for Barker (42), N McMillan for Ferris (62), K Campbell for Boss (69), K Maggs for Wallace (59), T Bowe for Maxwell (42).

OSPREYS: L Byrne; N Walker, S Parker, J Hook, R Mustoe; G Henson, J Marshall; D Jones (capt), B Williams, A Jones, A Wyn Jones, I Evans, J Thomas, R Pugh, R Jones.

Replacements: E Shervington for Williams (62), P James for A Jones (69), B Cockbain for Wyn Jones (62), L Beach for Pugh (75), J Spice for Marshall (79), A Bishop for Byrne (73), S Terblanche for Mustoe (79).

Referee: Peter Allan (SRU).