Ulster 30 Glasgow 3 Ulster kept hopes of a final surge up the Celtic League table alive with a sensational second-half performance to secure a bonus-point victory over Glasgow at Ravenhill last night.
After a stuttering first-half display, Ulster clicked with devastating effect, cutting loose and playing some superb rugby - including a sensational 45-metre solo try from Tommy Bowe. Simon Best, Kevin Maggs and man of the match Tyrone Howe also touched down.
Glasgow had started much more vigorously and should really have converted more of their slick pressure into points. Instead all they had to show for they efforts was a penalty by out-half Calvin Howarth in the 13th minute.
Adam Larkin levelled the scores with a simple penalty after Paul Shields had made a sharp break, but the Ulster outhalf could not convert another kick in front of the posts minutes later.
How the atmosphere changed after the break. Within four minutes Ulster were in front with a second Larkin penalty.
The big breakthrough came in the 54th minute, when Best finished off a sustained 16-phase attack by barging over the line from close range.
The confidence coursed through Ulster's veins, and the game exploded when Bowe stormed over from the halfway line for a try that will have impressed Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan.
Maggs, a constant midfield threat, ran in try number three after Glasgow were caught cold by a quick tap penalty.
All that was left for Ulster was to claim a rare bonus point and the highly-productive night was appropriately capped with a try for Howe, a tireless worker all night, who won the race to a chip over the line. Paddy Wallace added the conversion.
SCORING SEQUENCE: 12mins: C Howarth pen, 0-3; 17: A Larkin pen, 3-3; 44: Larkin pen, 6-3; 54: S Best try, Larkin con, 13-3; 61: T Bowe try, 18-3; 69: K Maggs try, 23-3; 79: T Howe try, P Wallace con, 30-3.
ULSTER: B Cuningham; T Bowe, P Steinmetz, K Maggs, T Howe; A Larkin, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, S Best, G Longwell, M McCullough, C Feather (capt), N Best, R Wilson. Replacements: A Ward for Feather (60 mins), T Barker for Longwell (73 mins), P Wallace for Larkin (75 mins).
GLASGOW: C Shaw; R Lamont, G Morrison, S Barrow, G McLure; C Howarth, G Beveridge; K Tkachuk, S Lawson, A Kelly, A Hall, D Turner, S Swindall, C Mather (capt), P Dearlove. Replacements: S Pinder for Beveridge, B Prescott for Kelly (58 mins), A Wilson for Swindall, K Logan for Shaw (64 mins), A Henderson for Barrow (65 mins), J Beardshaw for Turner, F Thompson for Lawson (72 mins).
Referee: N Owens (WRU).
