Celtic League/Ulster 23, Connacht 14: Ulster toppled their provincial rivals at Ravenhill to enhance their chances of automatic qualification for next season's European Cup.
It was mission accomplished for Mark McCall's side as they recorded their fourth successive home win and moved above Connacht in the league table by denying them a bonus point.
The game was turned into a war of attrition up front as the bad weather dictated the match pattern and it was the Ulster front five who won the battle.
The home side made a bright start, forcing a number of penalties in the Connacht 22 which they elected to kick to the corner. The visitors' defence held firm and Ulster had to settle for three points as outhalf David Humphreys kicked a sixth-minute penalty after Connacht killed the ball on the ground.
Australian Paul Warwick responded soon after for Connacht with a penalty as Ulster failed to clear from the restart.
The Connacht outhalf was off target with a long-range penalty effort but made amends in the 22nd minute as Ulster were penalised for obstruction at a rolling maul and the kick was made easier as the referee moved the ball forward 10 metres for dissent.
Winger Tommy Bowe kept his record of a try a game against Connacht intact by crossing the line two minutes later.
After Ulster turned the ball over on the Connacht 22, Humphreys fed Tyrone Howe, who kicked through, Bowe hacked on and won the race for the touchdown, with Humphreys adding the conversion from a tight angle.
Despite having number eight John O'Sullivan sin-binned for killing the ball, Connacht scored the last points of the first half with Warwick landing his third penalty although Ulster had a Howe try disallowed for crossing in midfield.
David Humphreys increased the lead with a second penalty after the interval before former All Black Paul Steinmetz went over for Ulster's second try.
Humphreys put a kick behind the Connacht defence, full back Matt Mostyn failed to collect on the wet surface, allowing Steinmetz to hack on and he won the race to the line ahead of Justin Meagher. Humphreys added the conversion.
Hooker Bernard Jackman got the visitors back into the game with a try in the 63rd minute.
Scrumhalf Chris Keane boxkicked from the base of a ruck, the Ulster defence hesitated, allowing the ball to bounce. Jackman was first to react and went over from close range but Warwick was unsuccessful with the conversion.
Humphreys pushed a drop goal attempt wide as Ulster finished the stronger.
Then Steinmetz almost grabbed himself a second try from an intercept as Connacht tried to run the ball from their own 22 but he knocked on.
Humphreys had the final word, landing his third penalty in injury time to deny the visitors a bonus point.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 6 mins: D Humphreys pen, 3-0; 10: P Warwick pen, 3-3; 22: Warwick pen 3-6; 24: T Bowe try, Warwick con 10-6; 33: Warwick pen 10-9; Half-time: 10-9. 45: Humphreys pen, 13-9; 52: P Steinmetz try, Humphreys con 20-9; 63: B Jackman try 20-14; 80: Humphreys pen 23-14
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; D Humphreys, K Campbell; R McCormack, R Best, R Moore, G Longwell, M McCullough, C Feather, N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: R Frost for Longwell (73 mins); A Ward for Feather (70 mins); N Doak for Campbell (73 mins).
CONNACHT: M Mostyn; J Meagher, D Yapp, J Downey, C McPhilips; P Warwick, C Keane; R Hogan, B Jackman, P Bracken, C Short, A Farley, M Swift, M Lacey, J O'Sullivan. Replacements: A Clarke for Bracken, J Muldoon for Swift (both 60 mins).
Referee: D Keane (Leinster).
