Ulster's hard work pays off against Aironi

Aironi 19 Ulster 25

Ulster had to work hard to see off Aironi and make it two wins out of two at the start of the RaboDirect Pro12 season.

Ian Whitten, Dan Tuohy and Craig Gilroy crossed for the visitors’ three tries at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella, while Ian Humphreys added two penalties and two conversions.

Former Munster player Nick Williams scored the Italians’ only try with Naas Olivier kicking 14 points.

Ulster started strongly and a Whitten score and a converted Tuohy try either side of an Olivier penalty had the Irish side 12-3 in front.

Aironi, though, came back into the match as another Olivier penalty and a converted try from New Zealander Williams put them 13-12 in front.

They would not hold out until half-time, though, as Humphrey kicked a long-range penalty to give Ulster a 15-13 interval lead.

Olivier then kicked the hosts back in front, but Gilroy scrambled over for a crucial third try for Ulster and Humphreys added the extras to give them a 22-16 advantage.

Humphreys took his personal haul to 10 points with his second penalty to give Ulster a cushion, and even though Olivier struck another penalty, this time Aironi could not mount a fightback.