Paddy Jackson booted six penalties as part of a spirited second half comeback, but it was not enough to prevent Ulster from surrendering their unbeaten record for 2014 to Cardiff Blues.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: CARDIFF BLUES 28 ULSTER 23
Mark Anscombe’s men made the perfect start through a Darren Cave try after three minutes, but a high first half penalty rate – mercilessly punished by Cardiff out-half Gareth Davies – and a breakaway try from the Blues’ own Irishman Robin Copeland kept the game just out of the province’s reach.
A strong Ulster starting line-up was bolstered by the return of Six Nations heroes Andrew Trimble and Chris Henry.
London Irish-bound prop Tom Court also ran out for his 150th provincial cap, while lock Dan Tuohy got his first start since breaking his arm in Ireland’s defeat of Wales last month.
Stephen Ferris made his third consecutive appearance after his 16-month injurylay-off and Michael Heaney kept his place at scrum half, just edging out Paul Marshall in the continued absence of first choice number 9 Ruan Pienaar.
Ulster soaked up two minutes of Cardiff pressure before snatching possession and in their very first attack, a missed tackle from full-back Dan Fish gave Cave the impetus to run a diagonal line from just outside the 22 and plough through for his 17th league try.
Paddy Jackson, whose pass had set up Cave for the try, pushed his conversion just wide of the posts.
The Ulstermen pressed again from the restart, Tommy Bowe taking on Chris Czejak as he chased his kick down the right wing which the Blues only just managed to hack into touch before Bowe could regather possession.
The resulting five-metre scrum got Ulster to the verge of the try-line, with trademark marauding from Nick Williams frightening the life out of the Cardiff defence before a marginal knock-on put paid to the attack.
At this stage the game took an absolute reversal in direction, as Davies first pulled back three points courtesy of a 13th minute penalty.
Then an adept steal on Heaney by Lewis Jones at an Ulster scrum 10 minutes later forced the infringement which allowed the out-half to kick his side into a 6-5 lead.
With the Ulster penalty count hitting seven just before the half hour mark, Tuohy was sent to the sin-bin for hands in the ruck. Davies gratefully dispatched his third successful kick from three penalty attempts.
Then, with their tails now well and truly up, the Cardiff forwards produced an incredible 45-metre-long maul which Ulster once again had to infringe upon in order to break it up five metres from their try-line, and Davies hit the target once more.
When the Cardiff try came in the 36th minute, it was exemplary. Alex Cuthbert made the initial running over halfway before picking out number 8 Copeland with a sublime pass behind his own back.
The Munster-bound back rower showed great pace for a player of his size to hare down the left wing, eventually resisting Trimble’s last-ditch tackle attempt to ground just over the line.
Five points from Davies – a conversion and a further penalty – followed in quick succession to leave Ulster, now back to their full complement with Tuohy back on the pitch, reeling from a 22-5 deficit at the break.
Robbie Diack replaced Ferris at the interval and Ulster were soon back on the scoresheet through two quick-fire Jackson penalties after 43 and 47 minutes.
The visitors went on to put together several promising phases, with a good wing break from Trimble and a powerful surge from Williams which left four would-be tacklers in his wake before the Kiwi was dragged to the ground five metres from home.
Ulster’s persistence almost paid off in the 55th minute, with television match official Gareth Simmonds eventually adjudging Luke Marshall to have been held up amid a trio of tackles.
Jackson opted for a simple three points from the close range penalty which ensued.
Paul Marshall and Iain Henderson entered the fray at scrum half and lock respectively, but Cardiff began to seize control again on the hour mark and Davies registered his sixth successful penalty with 15 minutes left.
Jackson reduced the gap to eight points again shortly afterwards and with new cap Andrew Warwick making an immediate impression with a strong carry, Ulster’s incessant probing earned them a further penalty with eight minutes remaining – dispatched once more by Jackson.
A pragmatic approach from Ulster saw Jackson split the posts once more three minutes later when a kick to the corner could have set up the chance to win the game outright.
As play streamed down the opposite end of the Arms Park, an infringement from Jared Payne allowed Davies to seal the victory with his seventh penalty of the night.
While undoubtedly disappointed by the defeat, the Ulstermen should be buoyed by the heart with which they pursued the game in the second half.
Another plus is the fact that no new injuries seem to have been picked up in advance of next Saturday’s Heineken Cup quarter-final clash with Saracens at Ravenhill.
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