Ulster slip to defeat against Bath

Ulster 14 Bath 26

Despite a determined start to their opening pre-season friendly, Ulster succumbed to the lively challenge of visitors Bath at Ravenhill tonight.

The sides' Heineken Cup pool meetings may not be until December, but Bath were certainly eager to draw first blood and gain revenge for a brace of defeats to Ulster in Europe last season.

Four tries, two in each half, helped the Englishmen to victory, with Olly Barkley and replacement Jack Cuthbert both crashing over in the second half. Ulster were held scoreless between the 19th and 75th minutes, but did sign off with a try from debutant flanker Pedrie Wannenburg, the former Springbok.

Determined to shake off the cobwebs, Ulster dominated possesssion early on and created most of the scoring opportunities in the opening quarter.

Out-half Ian Humphreys missed two penalties inside the opening nine minutes - including one from inside the visitors' ten-metre line - but Ulster continued to press hard for scores.

They were rewarded in the 19th minute when winger Mark McCrea intercepted close to his 22 and used his pace to scoot away and in under the posts for the opening try, which Humphreys converted.

Bath hooker Ross Batty scored out wide in the 38th minute, after Ulster lock Tim Barker had been sin-binned and the hosts were caught for numbers.

Replacement Matt Banahan followed up with Bath's second seven pointer, in injury-time, with Ulster's tackling not up to scratch. Sam Vesty's successful conversion made it 14-7 at the break.

The second half began in pedestrian fashion, with Ulster let down in the scrummaging stakes.

Play was halted for almost three minutes midway through the second half due to an injury to Paddy McAlister, with the Ballynahinch prop getting a rousing round of applause on his departure.

Bath looked most potent in the second half, and numbers out wide allowd Barkley to spring through for a 65th try which he converted himself.

Banahan passed for Cuthbert to run in the visitors' third try, just five minutes later.

However, Ulster bounced back with some decent attacking play in the closing stages, with Humphreys and Darren Cave enjoying some more space.

Wannenburg took a quick tap penalty to catch the Bath defence off guard and get over for a timely try. Humphreys added the extras to cut the gap to 14 points, but Brian McLaughlin's men had to settle for a losing start.

Scorers:

Ulster: Tries: Mark McCrea, Pedrie Wannenburg; Cons: Ian Humphreys 2

Bath: Tries: Ross Batty, Matt Banahan, Olly Barkely, Jack Cuthbert; Cons: Sam Vesty 3