Cool Ulster go top

A FIRST-HALF double by centre Darren Cave sent Ulster top of the RaboDirect Pro12 League with a deserved win over previous leaders Cardiff Blues at Ravenhill last night.

Cave grabbed the first try in the 32nd minute, Humphreys adding the conversion, and two minutes later Ulster had their second try with an even better effort from Cave after a great break by Ian Whitten. Humphreys again added the extras.

Ian Humphreys added a couple of conversions and a penalty while replacement Paddy Jackson added a penalty of his own. Cardiff’s only replay was a late penalty by fly-half Ceri Sweeney.

A late tackle on Humphreys by Casey Laulala saw the Ulster fly-half replaced by Jackson who quickly ended the scoring with a penalty.

ULSTER: J Payne; C Gilroy: D Cave (D’Arcy, 40), N Spence, I Whitten; I Humphreys (Jackson, 74), P Marshall (Porter, 68); D Fitzpatrick (McAllister, 53), A Kyriacou (Brady, 65), J Cronin (Macklin, 80), L Stevenson, D Tuohy (McComb, 80), P Wannenburg, C Henry, R Diack (McComish, 65).

CARDIFF BLUES: C Czeka: T James; C Lualala, G Evans (Hewitt, 40), A Cuthbert; C Sweeney, L Jones (Rees, 46); T Rhys Thomas (Trevett, 67), S Andrews, M Patterson, P Tito, capt (Down, 67), M Molitika, M Williams (Young, 68), X Rush.

Referee: James Jones (WRU).