Tommy Bowe and Rory Best made try-scoring returns and Michael Allen bagged a brace as Ulster ran out convincing bonus point winners over Benetton Treviso at Ravenhill.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ULSTER 32 BENETTON TREVISO 13
Scores from man-of-the-match Luke Marshall and two from the ever-improving Michael Allen topped up those from Tommy Bowe and Rory Best, with the bonus point lifting the Ulstermen up to third in the RaboDirect PRO12 table.
The manner of the victory was just as important, given it is a clear indication of a return to form ahead of crucial ties at the Ospreys, in a week’s time, and Heineken Cup opponents Leicester Tigers in a fortnight.
Ulster burst into action straight from the off, a first minute scrum paving the way for Allen to pick up on the right wing and athletically attempt to ground the ball in the corner – unfortunately he just had a foot in touch, with TMO Marshall Kilgore ruling the try out.
The next Ulster attack did get them off the mark with Paddy Jackson landing an 11th minute after a Treviso infringement inside their own 22.
However a series of dropped balls and knock-ons stymied the ensuing passages of play, which Ulster dominated without any real effect, until an early engagement at a 17th minute scrum gifted Mat Berquist a levelling penalty from the 10-metre line.
A dropped ball from the Italians led to Ulster’s first try of the game, with good work from the resulting scrum eventually releasing Jared Payne – clearly thriving in his less familiar role of outside centre – inside the 22.
The Kiwi rode a handful of challenges and instinctively managed to find his midfield partner Marshall, popping a lovely pass out of the tackle for the young Ireland international to run in his first try of the season. Jackson converted for a 10-3 lead.
Impressive Ulster added to their tally seven minutes later, the in-form Allen touching down in the corner after pinpoint passing from right to left which, while not exactly lightning quick, undid the Treviso defence by its sheer accuracy.
Jackson saw his tricky conversion attempt spin wide of the posts, but the Ulster lead was comfortable now and they were content to see out the first half soaking up some uninspired Treviso pressure.
The visitors made a much brighter start to the second period, three minutes’ worth of camping deep in Ulster territory culminating in a short range penalty for replacement out-half Alberto di Bernardo as Ulster failed to roll away in the tackle.
Lewis Stevenson replaced a groggy Iain Henderson on 48 minutes, but Ulster proved just as dynamic as they had been in the first half once they got the ball back in hand.
The province registered try number three in the 52nd minute courtesy of a mixture of fortune and persistence. A cross-field kick from Jackson into the corner was spilled by Ludovico Nitoglia under pressure from Bowe, who was first to the ball as it bobbled behind the line, marking his return to league action with an opportunistic try.
The score went unconverted, but an undeterred Ulster went on to produce the move of the match on the hour mark.
Luke Marshall sliced open the Italian midfield on a virtuoso solo burst that had the 10,693-strong Ravenhill crowd in raptures. The raid came to nothing though, with Ulster harshly adjudged to have knocked on amid what could have been deemed a dangerous tackle in the air.
However, three minutes later the five points were secure, Marshall again instrumental in a break carried on by Stevenson and then completed by stand-in captain Best.
Jackson’s poor kicking record continued with the conversion, and with Stevenson sent to the sin-bin for coming in from the side as Treviso probed, the visitors enjoyed a decent spell of possession – it ended with a deserved try for Robert Barbieri, converted by di Bernardo with 10 minutes remaining.
There was still time for Allen to capitalise on a late blunder from Ignacio Fernandez-Rouyet, whose fumble on his own 22 allowed the much more alert Ulster backs to supply their winger who outpaced the chasers to score in the left corner. Jackson’s second successful conversion brought the encounter to a close.
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