Late try a bonus for Ulster

Ulster 41 Castres 17

But it was his replacement Ruan Pienaar who put the icing on the cake when he scored the bonus-point try in the last play of the game.

It looked as if Ulster had tossed away the chance of a five-pointer when they scored their third try as early as the 43rd minute. But a last-gasp interception by Jared Payne in his own 22 allowed Paddy Jackson, Darren Cave and Pienaar to inter-change passing before the Springbok charged over under the posts with an exhausted Castres defence left breathless.

Marshall though, was only on the field for an hour and in that time he did the damage to pick up the man of the match award. Not far behind him was flanker Chris Henry and Jackson, who pulled the strings at fly-half and nailed 21 points with the boot. Andrew Trimble got Ulster opening try while Marc Andreu and Marcel Garvey scored for the visitors.

The loss of firepower in the back row when Stephen Ferris pulled out an hour before kick-off with a back spasm might have been a major factor in the collision area, but it wasn’t, thanks to the ferocity of Henry’s tackling and unseen undercover work.

The French visitors had set out their stall from the outset with their physicality initially ruffling the feathers of Ulster. The home side though, were not be intimidated and after visiting full-back Romaine Teulet opened their scoring with a penalty it was quickly matched by Jackson after a surge upfield by his pack.

Within two minutes Ulster posted the first try. A surging break down the left flank by Payne saw him swerve outside the Castres defence and although he was run down by Garvey, he was able to off-load to Trimble, who flashed in at the corner, with Jackson adding the touchline conversion.

Ulster were looking extremely dangerous every time their three-quarters were put in possession with some slick handling and decoy runners. Following one excellent passage of play, Castres were forced into an indiscretion on their 22 in the 17th minute and Jackson rifled over his second penalty.

Then came a subline piece of play from the men in white. Payne put up a monstrous Garryowen, which was well taken by Teulet. However, while his pack drove downfield, the magnificent Henry scavenged the ball and fed Marshall who, on seeing that there was nobody at home, cleverly kicked deep and easily won the race for the touchdown beside the posts.

At this stage Ulster were playing champagne rugby and twice they could have added to their scoreline. However, they also had to defend heroically when Castres camped on their line for 10 minutes. Despite a wonderful effort they defence was breached out wide when fly-half Bernard floated a cross-field kick into the lap of left-wing Andreu. Teulet converted from the touchline and the French visitors drew second breath.

Jackson then added his third penalty to push Ulster into a 23-10 lead, which they held up until the break.

Ulster started the second half in much the same high-tempo vein, with youngster Iain Henderson almost thundering in. However, within a minute Marshall had snipped in on the blindside from a ruck for his second try.

Jackson missed the conversion, but belted over his fourth penalty in the 46th minute. Castres though, were not about to lie down, and another intense period of pressure on Ulster’s line reaped it’s rewards again with Garvey stretching in with Teulet adding the extras.

It was that all-important bonus point that Ulster required to make a statement in Pool 4.

It didn’t help when Tom Court was binned for pulling down a ruck in the 58th minute, although Jackson added a fifth penalty.

Ulster became very ragged and frustrated as they lost their shape and intensity.

It was only when replacement prop Yannick Forestier was yellow-carded with five minutes remaining did Ulster look like grabbing that fourth try and it came just in the nick of time with that marvellous counter-attack at the death.

Scorers for Ulster: Tries: Trimble, Marshall (2), Pienaar; Pens: Jackson (5); Cons: Jackson (3).

Scorers for Castres: Tries: Andreu, Garvey; Pens: Teulet; Cons: Teulet (two).

ULSTER: J Payne; T Bowe (Gilroy, 64), D Cave, P Wallace (L Marshall, 70), A Trimble; P Jackson, P Marshall (Pienaar, 60); T Court (Black, 58), R Best (Herring, 75), J Afoa, J Muller, capt, D Tuohy (Stevenson, 63), I Henderson, S C Henry, M McComish.

CASTRES: R Teulet; M Garvey, S Bai, D Kirkpatrick (Sanchou, 52), M Andreu; P Bernard (Bonnefond, 63), T Lacrampe; Y Forestier, M Bonello (Rallier, 58), M Coetzee (Lazar, 52), M Rolland, capt, (Tekori, 52) R Ortega, P Faasalele, Y Caballero (Classen, 68), P Wannenburg.

Referee: A Small (RFU).