Ulster stay unbeaten in pre-season campaign

Worcester Warriors 3 Ulster 25

Centre Ian Whitten crossed in the fifth minute, with Ian Humphreys converting, to give Ulster an early fillip. But a 20th-minute Willie Walker penalty put the hosts back in touch.

Lock Ryan Caldwell saw yellow on 28 minutes, but Ulster held Worcester – who included former Wallaby full-back Chris Latham and New Zealand hardman Greg Rawlinson in a strong line-up – at bay until the break.

Scrum-half Isaac Boss rumbled over on 49 minutes to give them some breathing space, with Humphreys again adding the extras.

The former Leicester Tigers out-half tacked on a brace of penalties to stretch Ulster’s lead to 15-3, before backrower Robbie Diack split the Worcester defence to add the coup de grace in the closing minutes.

Having also scored wins over Newcastle Falcons and Viadana during their pre-season programme, Ulster can now look towards their opening Magners League encounter at Newport Gwent Dragons next Sunday with confidence.

WORCESTER: C Latham; M Garvey, A Grove, C MacRae, M Benjamin; W Walker, R Powell; A Black, C Fortey, O Sourgens; G Rawlinson, C Gillies; T Wood, J Collins, Pat Sanderson (capt).

Replacements: M Mullan, A Lutui, T Taumoepeau, G Kitchener, W Bowley, J Freeman, D Askew, M Cox, J Arr, O Frost, G Crook, G King, A Short, R Gear, M Penn.

ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Nagusa, A Trimble, I Whitten, N Spence; I Humphreys, I Boss; B Young, A Kyriacou, BJ Botha; D Tuohy, R Caldwell; C Henry (capt), W Faloon, R Diack.

Replacements: N Brady, T Court, D Fitzpatrick, E O’Donoghue, TJ Anderson, I Porter, N O’Connor, J Shiels, D Cave.