Ulster singing in the rain

Ulster 16 Leinster 14:Ulster recorded their first win over Leinster since May 2004 to move top of the Magners League with a near perfect tactical performance in appalling conditions at Ravenhill. The two-point gap in the final scoreline came courtesy of a late converted Luke Fitzgerald try but belied the dominance Ulster had shown throughout the game.

The Ireland wing’s score at the death secured a bonus point for Leinster but it is Ulster's tireless forward play and brilliant tactical kicking from Ian Humphreys that deserves all the plaudits.

With the rain teeming down in Belfast it was always going to be hard slog for both sides but in the face of a driving wind it was Humphreys whose game was restricted the most.

The elements made the homeside’s task very difficult in the first half and they were rarely in opposition territory as a result, though they did spend much of the time with ball in hand and kept it neat and tidy to keep Leinster possession to a minimum.

By the time Humphreys put the first points on the board in the 36th minute, Leinster’s stand in outhalf Shaun Berne had missed three kicks at goal.

With the European champions having nothing to show for their territorial advantage, Ulster went about a rare foray into the Leinster half and took it through umpteen phases close in to edge to within striking distance. Particularly effective were Tom Court and Nigel Brady.

The opportunity came when Bernard Jackman was adjudged to have played the ball on the ground and earned himself a spell in the sin-bin and Humphreys a relatively straight forward shot at the posts. He took the chance and the three points - just reward for their work thus far.

Sparked into action, however, Brian O’Driscoll forced Ulster back with a kick into the corner and when Andrew Trimble prevented the lineout a penalty was awarded to Leinster.

Jamie Heaslip chose to tap and go and Leinster probed for a phase or two before Tamaiti Horua was caught on the wrong side and followed Jackman to the bin. Under the posts, Leinster went cross-field and O’Driscoll sucked three defenders in to send Berne scampering over the line, through Trimble’s despairing tackle.

Admirable stuff from Michael Cheika’s men but Ulster had been the better side and had the wind behind them after the break. They took advantage straight away and forced Leinster to defend from the off, taking just six minutes to fashion an opportunity for Humphreys, who closed the gap to one.

Ulster knew they were in the ascendancy and so did their fans. It wasn’t long before Leinster knew it too.

After Chris Keane was collared by captain for the day Chris Henry at the halfway line, the number eight brilliantly ripped possession from the scrumhalf. The ball was recycled quickly for Isaac Boss to scamper away from Malcolm O'Kelly and up the blindside before sliding over in the corner. Humphreys’ exquisite conversion from the touchline was the icing on the cake.

Leinster looked to open the game up a little and create from deep, but the ball rarely got past O’Driscoll before it had to punted downfield. Ulster mopped it up and Humphreys gratefully pinned them back inside their 22.

O’Driscoll, however, was not taking no for an answer and fired warning shots with two brilliant line breaks before the hour, the second of which was squandered after replacement Jonathan Sexton took his eye of the pop pass.

Sexton’s attempted grubber kick was then blocked down before being hacked up field by Andrew Trimble. Despite Ian Whitten failing to gather and Leinster winning the penalty, it was a demoralising blow for the visitors, who once again found themselves back deep in their own half.

An inexplicable knock on from Luke Fitzgerald then gave Ulster a platform inside the Leinster half and the visitors were guilty of a high tackle on Clinton Schifcofske. In the form he’s in, Humphreys was never going to miss from in front of the posts.

With their job seemingly done, however, the hosts took their eye off the ball long enough for Isa Nacewa to slot an 80th minute kick in behind their defence and for Fitzgerald to pick up and close the gap to four.

Sexton stepped up and did what was asked of him but his successful conversion only signalled the end of the game, albeit with a more respectable looking scoreline.