Ulster came through another tough examination of their Heineken Cup credentials, with a 73rd minute penalty from man-of-the-match Ian Humphreys helping them see off Bath at the Recreation Ground.
Ulster repeated last season’s historic Heineken Cup double over Bath, with tries in each half from Adam D’Arcy and Nevin Spence and a nerveless kicking display from Ian Humphreys steering them to a four-point success.
While Bath resign themselves to non-qualification for the second season in-a-row, the Ulstermen can now look forward to an epic encounter with Pool 4 leaders Biarritz at Ravenhill next month.
The match turned on a yellow card shown just after half-time to South African out-half Butch James, who was making his first appearance in a Bath jersey since shoulder surgery in August.
It allowed Ulster, trailing by 14-13 at half-time, to grab the initiative with a 56th minute try from young centre Spence.
Man-of-the-match Humphreys slotted the touchline conversion and held Bath at bay with some excellent place-kicking, while the home side could only muster a long range try from Matt Banahan.
Volunteers descended on the Recreation Ground to shovel snow to the pitchside and to clear walkways and stairways, allowing the game to go ahead as scheduled.
The pitch, protected by covers all week and by a tent-like structure for the last 48 hours, was in perfect condition underneath and the gates were finally opened barely an hour before kick-off.
Ulster were caught cold after just 34 seconds when Jack Cuthbert hit up through the middle and Lee Mears was on hand to send Australian winger Matt Carraro in at the corner for an unconverted try.
Stand-in captain Michael Claassens should have added another Bath try after charging down a Humphreys clearance, but the bounce of the ball was less than favourable and Carraro knocked it on.
Olly Barkley soon added a penalty after Andrew Trimble was caught offside, but Ulster hit back with an 11th minute try from D’Arcy. The visitors probed in the Bath 22 and after a quickly-taken free-kick, the returning Robbie Diack provided his full-back with the scoring pass.
Humphreys converted but then needed treatment after a late hit by James which went unpunished by the match officials.
Ulster prop BJ Botha was not so fortunate after a high tackle on Claassens though and Barkley’s second penalty made it 11-7 to Steve Meehan’s side.
Humphreys and Barkley swapped further penalties but the Ulster number 10 seemed to be struggling with an ankle injury and his tactical kicking was too often handing the initiative back to Bath.
As half-time approached, however, Bath had failed to convert possession into points and Ruan Pienaar broke dangerously with Humphreys and the dangerous Trimble in support.
Bath’s defence snuffed out the threat but only at the cost of a penalty which was landed by Humphreys from an acute angle to again cut the lead to a point.
James’ notoriously short fuse lasted just four minutes into the second half when he was sin-binned after a scuffle with lock Dan Tuohy.
But, having worked their way into the Bath 22, Ulster gave away two immediate penalties, surrendering hard-won ground.
As James waited for a break in play to return to the field, Ulster seized their chance to string together phase after phase and finally Paddy Wallace put his centre partner Spence in at the left corner.
Humphreys converted magnificently and then added a 50-metre penalty for good measure to put his team ahead for the first time at 23-14.
Two penalties in quick succession saw Spence sent to the sin-bin and Barkley pulled back three points from straight in front of the posts.
Suddenly Bath burst into life, attacking from their own 22 through replacement Nick Abendanon and finishing off in spectacular fashion through Banahan in the opposite corner.
Barkley failed to convert but Humphreys, immediately handed a penalty chance from 40 metres, stretched the Ulster lead to a decisive four points.
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