Ulster stay top after easy win

Ulster 31 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 19

Ulster stayed top of the Celtic League table with a four-try win in a one-sided match as the spirited visitors struggled to stay in touch throughout.

Even with speculation continuing over coach Alan Solomons’ future at Ravenhill, Ulster stuck to their task and scored three tries in a 13-minute period of the first half.

Ospreys battled back to 24-12 after an hour, before Ulster finally grabbed their bonus point with a score from replacement Warren Brosnihan.

Ulster outside-half Adam Larkin ended the night kicking four conversions and a penalty, as the home side registered their ninth win of the campaign.

The table-toppers opened the scoring after six minutes with a Larkin penalty. They should have stretched their early lead three minutes later, but Larkin’s second penalty attempt rebounded off an upright.

Ulster made amends after 12 minutes when a Paddy Wallace half break put Neil Best clear for the touchdown. Larkin added the points and did so again three minutes later when a Wallace break put Scott Young clear to dot down.

Five minutes before the half-hour Ulster grabbed a third score when Wallace made the left corner after great initial work by captain Andy Ward.

Larkin added a great conversion, and Ulster seemed out of sight at 24-0.

But Ospreys hit back after Ulster had a fourth try, by Larkin, disallowed following an apparent punch thrown by Best.

Gareth Morris burst through against the run of play, and Gavin Henson added the two points to make it 24-7 at the break.

After a scrappy start to the second half, an Ospreys line-out near the Ulster line on the hour saw captain Williams cross after the visitors drove over the line.

Gavin Henson missed the conversion, but Ospreys had closed it to 24-12.

Ulster grabbed their bonus point eight minutes after the hour when Brosnihan was driven over from a line-out.

Larkin converted, and Ulster were back in the driving seat at 31-12.

All that remained was for Dave Tiueti to grab a consolation injury-time score which Shaun Connor converted.