Ulster got their RaboDirect PRO12 challenge off the ground with a well-judged home win over the Glasgow Warriors, which saw them recover from the concession of an early try.
Despite the absence of nine key Ulster players away on Rugby World Cup duty, Brian McLaughlin was still able to field a strong team.
Ian Whitten started out of position on the left wing and returning lock Lewis Stevenson, who is back in Belfast after a spell at Harlequins, came in for his first full Ulster cap.
Youthful exuberance was the order of the day among the replacements, however, with Conor Carey, Adam Macklin, Ian Porter, Paddy Jackson and Peter Nelson all hoping to make an impact from the bench.
Although early Glasgow pressure came to an abrupt end with a missed drop goal attempt, the Scots continued to have the better of the opening skirmishes in midfield.
They were rewarded in the tenth minute when former Connacht centre Troy Nathan touched down from close range, amid a sea of bodies.
Duncan Weir’s conversion was off-target, however, and a steal by the alert Nevin Spence right from the restart gave Ulster every chance to strike straight back.
An unfortunate knock on by Paddy McAllister as the ball was recycled though, gave the ball back to Sean Lineen’s side.
But an Ian Humphreys penalty opened the hosts’ account in the 16th minute, and when Chris Henry pilfered the ball at a Glasgow lineout moments later, the Ulstermen pushed forward in numbers.
Possession was relinquished momentarily, but the quick-thinking Darren Cave latched on to a blind pass by the retreating Colin Gregor on the 22 to run in the simplest of tries by the posts. Humphreys added the extras for a 10-5 lead.
A combination of stout Glaswegian defending and ball-handling errors from Ulster kept the scoreline static as the half progressed, until three minutes before the interval. Weir got his name on the scoresheet courtesy of a well-struck penalty from around 40 metres out.
Directly from the restart, the powerful Spence again caused trouble for the Glasgow defence, his mere presence proving enough of a distraction to win the ball back as the Warriors tried to get the ball back on their side.
Dan Tuohy then showed great ball-carrying ability down the right flank before being grounded five metres from the line.
Showing his sharpness at the ruck, Paul Marshall collected the ball, feigned a move to the left and then darted to the right, exploiting a gap to touch down in the right corner.
Humphreys’ conversion attempt from the touchline spun wide of the posts, and Weir even had the time to add a second penalty to his tally before the half-time whistle was blown.
15-11 in arrears, the Warriors started the second period on the offensive. They reduced the deficit to a solitary point in the 48th minute thanks to a close range penalty from Weir.
Humphreys matched his opposite number with a penalty of his own three minutes later. Soon after the restart, Pedrie Wannenburg raised the biggest Ravenhill cheer of the night thus far with a great steal and surge from midfield.
The big South African looked for support and linked with Spence on the left wing, but the Scots got back to crowd the youngster out.
With Glasgow penalised on the hour mark for not releasing in the tackle, Humphreys added a further three points from the halfway line to put his side ahead by a full converted try at 21-14.
The lead should have been increased further on 70 minutes with another Humphreys penalty from just outside the 22, but the out-half’s kick from the left failed to curl between the posts.
The killer blow came with five minutes remaining, nonetheless. Henry used all of his power to force his way over for the try after picking up from the base of a strong Ulster scrum.
Humphreys converted, and there was still time for a further close shave for the Glasgow defence. Seeking the bonus point score, Whitten narrowly failed to hold onto the final pass as Ulster again surged down the left flank.
With a good opening night win now under their belts, Ulster will be quietly confident of making it two on the trot against Aironi in Viadana next weekend.
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