Humphreys gives Ulster vital win over Cardiff

Ulster 21 Cardiff Blues 16

Ulster kept their Heineken Cup home record intact – they have not lost a European game at Ravenhill for three years – with what may prove a vital win in what has so far been a faltering season for new coach Mark McCall.

David Humphreys led the way for Ulster and scored all their 21 points through five penalties and two drop goals.

It was far from a classic encounter an though Cardiff scored the only try through Tom Shanklin the visitors were unable to put points on the board when it mattered.

Their miserable European away record now stretches to 12 games and heaps further pressure on coach Dai Young whose own Celtic League campaign has been far from impressive.

A drop goal after five minutes from Humphreys got Ulster off the mark in a first half that had plenty of application but little to report in the way constructive play or quality finishing from either side.

The visitors drew level eight minutes later when Lee Thomas made up for an earlier miss with a penalty after Ulster infringed at a ruck.

More scrappy play followed and though Cardiff looked more threatening, it was Ulster who went ahead 6-3 after Martin Jones body-checked Humphreys in open play.

The Ulster outside-half made no mistake with his first penalty.

What little momentum Cardiff had was then interrupted with the sin-binning of hooker Gareth Williams after he flattened Andy Ward, who was nowhere near the ball, with a tackle from the kick-off.

While Williams was off the pitch, two further Humphreys penalties put the home side 12-3 up which is how it stood at the break after Thomas missed a penalty and Humphreys was wide with a drop goal in injury time.

The Blues hit the ground running in the second half.

A minute after the restart from a lineout, Craig Quinnell made ground and from the ruck Rhys Williams broke free and fed Shanklin who ran in under the posts.

Thomas converted and then, three minutes later, slotted his second penalty to give the Blues a 13-12 lead.

But a fourth successful penalty from Humphreys put Ulster back in front 15-13 eight minutes before the hour mark.

The lead then see-sawed just after the hour as first a Thomas drop goal eased the Blues in front again before Humphreys’ second drop goal put Ulster back in front 18-16 after 67 minutes.

This was followed by an immediate Thomas drop attempt which sailed wide but Humphreys struck again five minutes before time to stretch it to 21-16.

Ulster then held on for a much-needed victory.

Heineken Cup result: Llanelli 6 Toulouse 9

Heineken Cup result: Perpignan 23 Edinburgh 0