Celtic League/Ulster - 32 Border Reivers - 8: Champions have a habit of grinding out results despite dipping below their best and so it proved for Ulster at Ravenhill last night. Going into half-time against the Magners Celtic League basement side, the Border Reivers, Ulster trailed 5-3 following a try by the wing Simon Danielli and a huge upset seemed on the cards.
Ulster were missing six Ireland players but more crucially seemed to lack any sort of bite, with a penalty by David Humphreys all to show for their efforts in the first half. And yet such a flat performance would eventually be buried by what culminated in a rousing second-half display, with tries by Kieron Dawson, his first for the province since his move from London Irish, Kieran Campbell and Justin Fitzpatrick blowing the Reivers away.
And even as the clock ran into injury time, the reigning champions dug deep, Paul Steinmetz and Mark Bartholomeusz combining to send Steinmetz racing over for the crucial fourth try at the death.
It sent the crowd of 10,452 into raptures.
Such a rousing finish could not have been predicted during a first-half memorable only for the flatness of Ulster's display. Crucially they picked themselves up after the break and once Humphreys's second penalty went over in the 47th minute, they moved through the gears.
At last Ulster's ball carriers began to do some damage. One thunderous drive by Stephen Ferris pushed the Borders back into their half and when an attacking move broke down outside the visitors' 22, the play was brought back for an Ulster penalty for an offside and Humphreys nudged his side in front with his second kick, in the 47th minute.
With their noses in front, you could sense the confidence slowly returning to Ulster. And after Ben MacDougall had been sinbinned for a late shoulder charge on Andrew Maxwell after the Ulster wing had chipped the ball into the Borders 22, the home side struck again. Humphreys kicked the ball to the corner and from the lineout Dawson peeled from the back to the front to dance over for a try in the 56th minute.
The visitors managed to reduce the deficit with a Calum MacRae penalty in the 60th minute but it could not stop Ulster.
Campbell raced over for a sizzling touchdown from another lineout move after a huge hit by Roger Wilson had won a penalty and then another high-energy move, started by a Ferris drive, saw Wilson tap a free kick from a scrum and Fitzpatrick charge over in the 71st minute.
Ulster were home and dry and all that was needed was the fourth try, and Steinmetz delivered.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 15: S Danielli try, 0-5; 25: D Humphreys pen, 3-5; 47: Humphreys pen, 6-5; 56: K Dawson try 11-5; 60: C MacRae pen, 11-8; 62: K Campbell try, Humphreys con; 18-8; 71: J Fitzpatrick try, Humphreys con, 25-8; 80: P Steinmetz try, Humphreys con, 32-8.
Ulster: M Bartholomeusz; S Young, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; D Humphreys, K Campbell; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best; J Harrison, T Barker; S Ferris, K Dawson, R Wilson. Replacements: N Brady for Shields (25-30, 40), M McCullough Barker (44), N McMillan for Ferris (72), P McKenzie for Maxwell (76), P Marshall for Campbell (79)
Border Reivers: C MacRae; S Danielli, B MacDougall, N De Luca, B Daniel; S Jones, C Cusiter; R Grant, S Scott, B Douglas; C Hamilton, J Dalziel; S Gray, A Miller, R Beattie. Replacements: G Law for de Luca (25), S Crombie for Miller (27-35), E Kalman for Grant (68), S Newlands for Beattie (68), G Townsend for Daniel (76),
Referee: N Owens (WRU)
