Ulster face anxious wait despite emphatic victory

Ulster 59 Benetton Treviso 3

Ulster 59 Benetton Treviso 3

Ulster must wait to see if they can make it an Irish treble in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup after defeating Benetton Treviso at Ravenhill this evening.

With eight points from their six pool matches Ulster are currently in position to claim one of the two best-placed runners-up spots.

But given Alan Solomons' side poor try-count Ulster must now hope that holders Leicester win at Llanelli and Cardiff lose at Northampton if they are to play any further part in the tournament.

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Ulster dominated possession from the start, running the ball from everywhere and opting to kick penalties to the corner in a desperate pursuit of tries.

However Treviso took the lead against the run of play with a penalty by Simon Mason, a veteran of Ulster's Cup-winning side.

David Humphreys calmed the home side's nerves with three penalties and when Mason was sent to the sin bin just before the break, Ulster struck with tries by Gary Longwell and Neil Doak.

The second half started in splendid style for Ulster, with Tyrone Howe touching down within two minutes and the stage was set for the floodgates to open.

Paddy Wallace went over for a solo effort, before the move of the match saw Howe come off his wing to run in his second try, which Wallace converted from the touchline.

Desperate Italian defence conceded a penalty try in the 55th minute from an Ulster driving maul and then Adam Larkin, a substitute for Sheldon Coulter, scored with his first touch.

Treviso were again reduced to 14 men when Carlo Checchinato was sent to the sin bin in the 66th minute but it was not until injury-time that Ulster were able to score again, with Ryan Constable grabbing his second. -PA