Ulster can only sit and wait

It will be a nervous 24 hours for Ulster as they sweat it out to see if last night's win proves enough to allow them to join …

It will be a nervous 24 hours for Ulster as they sweat it out to see if last night's win proves enough to allow them to join Leinster and Munster in the European Cup quarter-finals.

At least the eight tries Alan Solomon's side ran in greatly improved their try-count for the final shake-up.

Ulster, with eight points and 17 tries, are currently in one of the two best-placed runners-up berths, but the province must now hope for Leicester to win at Llanelli and Cardiff to lose at Northampton. If Llanelli lose and Cardiff win without scoring a try, then Ulster would still qualify by a one-try margin. It is as tight as that.

The home side went for the jugular from the opening minute, running the ball from everywhere and opting to kick penalties for the corners in their desperate bid for tries. But Ulster seemed a little too desperate and Humphreys, perhaps tentative because of his ankle injury, knocked-on three times.

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Driving mauls were also proving fruitful, and Ulster opted to looked to bring Jonny Bell and Tony McWhirter on the crash ball and look for the quick recycle.

But it was Treviso who took the lead with a warmly applauded penalty from Simon Mason, a stalwart of Ulster's European Cup winning campaign in 1999.

Ulster then came close with a close-range tapped penalty from hooker Paul Shields and a neat chip ahead by Humphreys which was just too far for Tyrone Howe.

A superb break by Howe from deep in his half had the Italians in disarray and prop Simon Best was just held up after Andy Ward had taken the attack on.

Ironically, hopes of an Ulster breakthrough were finally realised after Mason was sent to the sin-bin for dropping his knee in a tackle.Just before half-time, with the line under siege, lock Gary Longwell went over in the corner from a blindside break by Neil Doak.

It should have been two moments later but Howe could not hold Ward's pass with the line at his mercy. But Ulster won the scrum against the head and Doak darted over.

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

They duly did. First Doak carved out a superb solo score. Then the movement of the match saw Howe come off his wing to run in his second try.

Ulster were in full pomp and it was no surprise when referee Nigel Whitehouse awarded a penalty try in the 55th minute for collapsing a driving maul from a lineout.

Adam Larkin, a substitute for Sheldon Coulter, then scored with almost his first touch. But Ulster had to wait until injury time for the eighth try when Constable grabbed his second. The sweat begins.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 13 mins: Mason penalty, 0-3; 17: Humphreys pen, 3-3; 21: Humphreys penalty, 6-3; 24: Humphreys penalty, 9-3; 39: Longwell try, 14-3; 40: Doak try, Humphreys conversion, 21-3; 42: Howe try, 26-3; 47: Doak try, Wallace conversion, 33-3; 52: Howe try, Wallace conversion, 40-3; 55: penalty try, Wallace conversion, 47-3; 61: Larkin try, 52-3; 80: Constable try, Wallace conversion, 59-3.

ULSTER: P Wallace; S Coulter (A Larkin 58 mins), R Constable, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best, P Johns (J Davidson 43 mins), G Longwell, N McMillen A Ward, T McWhirter.

BENETTON TREVISO: S Mason; M Perziano, M Dallan (G Preo 40 mins), S Magorian, N Mazzucato (F Casagrande 46 mins); F Mazzariol, M Mazzantini (P Richards 74 mins); P Ribbens (G Faliva 59 mins), F Mazzariot, A Moscardi, F Properzi (N De Meneghi 59 mins), W Visser (S Garozzo 63 mins), A Gritti, F Ongaro, M Bergamasco, D Edwards (C Checchinato 40 mins).

Referee: N Whitehouse (Wales)