Man-of-the-match Ruan Pienaar inspired Ulster to a 35-22 bonus point victory over Cardiff Blues at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park, with Stuart McCloskey, Chris Henry and Louis Ludik all making try-scoring returns in the white jersey.
The result lifts the Ulstermen up to fifth in the GUINNESS PRO12 table as they scored five tries on the 4G surface in the Welsh capital.
Les Kiss’ charges started brightly with a line break by Sean Reidy and they worked the ball through 11 phases before losing it in midfield. The Blues broke the deadlock on four minutes with a penalty from out-half Steve Shingler.
Charles Piutau came to Ulster’s rescue on nine minutes with a try-saving tackle on Tom James, but it was the visitors forcing the issue with two tries in a four-minute spell while Cardiff full-back Blaine Scully was in the sin-bin.
Ulster won a penalty and kicked to touch, the forwards winning the lineout and setting up a driving maul. Man-of-the-match Pienaar broke from the back and after his jinking run was stopped short, Scully was yellow carded for killing the ball.
Ulster took a quick tap penalty, working the ball patiently through 11 phases to create space for Scully’s opposite number Piutau to finish off with Pienaar converting. The fit-again Stuart McCloskey, making his first appearance since September, got Ulster’s second try on 28 minutes.
Craig Gilroy carried into the Blues’ 22, Pienaar fed the big centre and McCloskey expertly glided through a non-existent defence to score by the posts, making the conversion a formality for Pienaar.
Pienaar was instrumental in Ulster’s third converted try on 36 minutes. The South African scrum half charged down his opposite number Lloyd Williams attempted clearance, Scully seized possession but Ulster were able to turn the ball over and prop Kyle McCall barged over from close range with Piennar converting.
Cardiff reduced Ulster’s advantage at the break to 21-8 when hooker Kristian Dacey went over from close range for an unconverted try following eight encouraging phases from the hosts.
Just two minutes into the second half, flanker Iain Henderson, a week on from his try-scoring exploits against Australia, was sin-binned for a high tackle on Blues winger Alex Cuthbert. Having kicked the resulting penalty to touch, Cardiff dropped the ball. Scrum half Williams regathered it to sprint over in the corner but the try was chalked off for a knock-on.
Despite centre Luke Marshall’s sin-binning, the eager Ulstermen, whose home match against Zebre last week was postponed, sealed their bonus point with 62 minutes on the clock.
Prop Rodney Ah You forced a turnover, Peter Browne led the charge out of defence before offloading to Tommy Bowe, the Ireland winger going close before his excellent run was halted. Pienaar spun the ball out to Gilroy and he fed fit-again flanker Chris Henry who was able to hold out two defenders and ground the ball, the try being a fitting way to mark his first appearance since last season’s semi-final loss to Leinster.
Although Pienaar’s conversion put a full 20 points between the sides, Cardiff managed to set up a grandstand stand finish with two tries in four minutes. New Zealander Willis Halaholo was first to cross on 68 minutes when his impressive footwork saw him get in at the posts with Nicky Robinson converting.
Replacement Robinson cut through the Ulster defence just a few minutes later before popping the ball back for the supporting Cuthbert to finish off a second quick-fire converted score.
However, replacement Louis Ludik, thankfully recovered from a fractured cheekbone, put the result beyond doubt when he charged down a kick from Robinson and pounced on the loose ball to score Ulster’s fifth try which Pienaar converted for a 13-point winning margin.
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