Anscombe already eyeing the big prize

HEINEKEN CUP POOL 5:

The home fans celebrated another famous European victory, roared its welcome back to Ruan Pienaar, and set down a genuine ‘marker for the rest of the Pool 5 campaign. Coach Mark Anscombe declared that his squad was capable of claiming the ultimate club prize, and his players justified that claim with a display full of discipline and no little swagger.

As early as the third minute a glorious chance was squandered by the home side. Capitalising on a dreadful kick by Tigers’ winger Miles Benjamin the Ulster pack created the space in midfield, and as the ball was swept into unguarded acreage and Ireland centre Darren Cave will wonder why he threw such a poor pass to Tommy Bowe who had just 15 yards left to claim a try.

That miss proved costly. Toby Flood made the initial foray into Ulster’s ‘22’, and as the Leicester pack drew the home defence, Ben Youngs slung a superb pass to the open spaces on the right. Ultimately tight-head prop Logovi’I Mulipola delightedly trundled over for a 7th minute touchdown, converted elegantly from the touchline by his skipper Flood.

Ulster’s response was positive, Andrew Trimble causing havoc with a storming run down the right, then a pinpoint Paddy Jackson penalty saw the home side secure swift lineout ball in the 16th minute. In an instant Jackson was in possession, he found Bowe on the left with an extravagant diagonal kick and the Lions winger soared highest to claim the try. The Ireland out-half’s conversion from the touchline was superbly struck and directed.

Three minutes later the Ulster forwards went offside at a ruck, and from 47 metres Flood unerringly found the target to put the Tigers 10-7 in front in an intensely physical first quarter.

A pattern was emerging of powerful Leicester drives and slick rucking, and of stern home defence, but after a convincing and enterprising series of Ulster attacks featuring Paul Marshall, Jared Oayne and Tommy Bowe the Tigers went off-side at the ruck 30 metres out, and Jackson levelled with a confident penalty.

Familiar errors in the set-piece threatened to undermine Ulster, but time and again the back-row of Nick Williams, Chris Henry and a rejuvenated Roger Wilson at blindside flanker stopped the visitors in their tracks, often centre Vereneki Goneva posing the greatest threats with his pace and physique.

In the 42 minute Ulster had the capacity 14,000 crowd on its feet, scrum-half Paul Marshall making one of his signature breaks down the side of the ruck deep into Leicester territory. Bowe almost broke the Tigers’ defensive line, and the home pack then made camp on the opposition line.

Inevitably, under such pressure, the visitors offended in the maul, and with the last action of the half the increasingly-impressive Jackson landed a 30-metre penalty from the right to give his side a deserved 13-10 interval advantage. On the restart Leicester levelled in controversial circmsances, Jackson’s interception and 85-metre ‘scoring’ run ruled as off-side, Flood obliged as a chorus of boos calmed.

In the 47th minute the crown roared its approval at the first appearance this season of Springbok pivot Pienaar, who’d endeared himself to the Province earlier in the week by spurning lucrative approaches from France to extend his stay in Belfast for a further three years.

Immediately his team surged forward, Darren Cave crashed over, only to see the score ruled out for a forward pass earlier in the phase.

In the 56th minute Jackson missed a straightforward penalty after Leicester mischief in the scrum, but No.8 Jordan Crane’s enthusiasm spilled over on the hour when he impeded Pienaar on the ground, was sin-binned, and Jackson exacted 64th minute penalty revenge as Ulster regained the lead at 16-13.

And when Lion Dan Cole was penalised in the scrum — and give a final warning by the official — Jackson landed the 66th penalty to ease Ulster six points in front.

Ulster, inspired by Pienaar’s confidence, launched wave after wave of piercing attacks deep in Leicester territory, Bowe’s initial thrust leading to a further Jackson penalty in the 72nd minute.

Owen Williams immediately replaced Flood and his attempted drop goal smashed off the Ulster woodwork, then in the 77th minute the substitute out-half reduced the arrears to 22-16 with a simple penalty.

But by then Leicester was a well-beaten side, but there were signs of its quality as a defensive an counter-attacking team — and a losing bonus point could prove important. But this was Ulster’s night.

Ulster scorers: Tries: Bowe. Cons: Jackson. Pens: Jackson 5.

Leicester scorers: Tries: Mulipola. Cons: Flood. Pens: Flood 2, Williams.

ULSTER: Payne, Trimble, Cave, L. Marshall, Bowe, Jackson, P. Marshall, Court, Best, Fitzpatrick, Muller, Tuohy, Wilson, Henry, Williams.

Replacements: Olding for L. Marshall (51), Allen for Bowe (72), Pienaar for P. Marshall (46), Lutton for Fitzpatrick (76), Diack for Muller (65).

LEICESTER: Morris, Benjamin, Goneva, Bowden, Thompstone, Flood, B. Youngs, Mulipola, T. Youngs, Cole, Deacon, Parling, Slater, Salvi, Crane.

Replacements: Hepetema for Benjamin (75), Williams for Flood (72), Mele for B. Youngs (64), Briggs for T. Youngs (72), Kitchener for Deacon (59).

Referee: Romain Poite (France).