A free-flowing first-half saw both sides press for openings, but stern defence kept all attackers at bay. Instead, the only points came from mistakes, with the two goalkickers, Rhys Patchell and Paddy Jackson, hitting the mark with seven out of seven kicks.
Jackson’s fourth success of the half, on the stroke of half-time, edged Ulster ahead 12-9 and from there they never looked back. A try from lock Dan Tuohy 11 minutes into the second half finally unlocked the Blues defences and Jackson’s conversion created a 10 point gap.
Now the home side had to throw caution to the wind and eventually managed to get on the outside of the Ulster defence, only for Patchell and Richard Smith to throw away a golden scoring opportunity by fluffing their lines five metres out.
Just as Glasgow Warriors had come on strong in the second half the previous weekend, so Ulster kept pressing forward via their strong pack. Rock solid at the set-pieces, they used their driving lineout to devastating and demoralising effect.
Replacement outside half Ian Humphreys added he killer blow four minutes from time when he intercepted a loose pass in the home 22 to scamper to the posts for a try which he also converted. That was game, set and match and Ulster moved up to second place behind Connacht in the table as they made it two wins and a draw from their first three outings.
