Unbeaten Ulster Go Through As Top Seeds

Ruan Pienaar produced a man-of-the-match performance as his 22-point haul helped Ulster battle past Leicester Tigers and progress to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals as top seeds.

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: LEICESTER TIGERS 19 ULSTER 22

The Ulstermen completed a clean sweep of Pool 5 victories by handing Leicester their first European defeat at Welford Road since October 2006 when Ronan O’Gara kicked Munster home.

This time around it was another world class goal-kicker that toppled Tigers, with Ruan Pienaar kicking 17 points – including a monster match-winning penalty in the 70th minute – in addition to his second half try.

Mark Anscombe’s men looked up against it when they trailed 9-3 initially and they then fell 19-9 behind after Toby Flood set up and converted Irish winger Niall Morris’ 50th-minute try.

But showing the big-match composure and defensive grunt that are becoming hallmarks of their European displays, the province launched a stirring comeback over the remainder of this tense round 6 tie.

Pienaar rewarded the hard work of his forwards with two penalties, either side of his own charge-down try, as Ulster set up a quarter-final rematch with Saracens – the team that ended their European ambitions at the same stage last season.

Leicester out-half and captain Flood kicked his side into a fifth minute lead, rewarding prop Marcos Ayerza for getting the first scrum decision against John Afoa.

A loose pass from Pienaar was followed by a wayward box kick from his opposite number Ben Youngs as the early pressure told.

Ulster were beginning to settle though, Craig Gilroy getting over the gain-line and Paddy Jackson hanging up some inviting kicks for his pack of chasers.

But Andrew Trimble was pinged for not rolling away in the 11th minute and the resulting 47-metre kick was thumped home by Flood, with the breeze behind him.

Second row Ed Slater was singled out for coming in at the side of a promising Ulster maul, allowing Pienaar to get Ulster off the mark with 17 minutes gone.

A turnover won by Nick Williams spared the visitors as Ben Youngs and Flood initiated a good surge up to the 22, while Jared Payne did well to bring down the advancing Graham Kitchener in sight of the try-line.

Ulster number 8 Williams was to the fore as a subsequent Leicester maul was brought down, but Callum Black was penalised at scrum-time and Flood mopped up the points on offer for 9-3.

A Pienaar kick plunged Ulster straight back into the Tigers 22 and the forwards built momentum in the maul, Dan Cole infringing and the Ulster scrum half closing the gap to three points.

The visitors’ pack forced another penalty – this time through Chris Henry’s breakdown work on halfway – and Pienaar brilliantly fired home from 54 metres out for a 9-9 scoreline.

A couple of marginal calls went Leicester’s way, but Flood clipped a kickable penalty wide and Trimble had a foot in touch as a clever Pienaar kick bounced kindly for the onrushing winger.

Ulster enjoyed a strong finish to the first half nonetheless and they would have nipped ahead before the break had Jackson been able to land a drop goal effort.

Both defences were well marshalled during a tit-for-tat opening to the second period, however Henry’s decision to break early from a scrum handed Flood the opportunity to kick Leicester back in front.

The reigning English champions moved 17-9 clear when after chipping away at Ulster’s defence during an ultra-physical set of phases, Flood nudging an inch perfect kick through for Morris to score in the right corner despite Jackson’s despairing tackle.

A well-judged conversion followed from Flood, the concession of the seven-pointer drawing a strong spell of carrying from Ulster in response.

Tigers thwarted their efforts in the 22 before Ulster marched back into scoring range and a Tom Youngs infringement was punished by Pienaar’s fourth successful penalty.

The South African then pounced for a terrific try, blocking down Flood’s attempted clearance in the 22 and grounding the bouncing ball in the corner. He also swung over the crucial conversion from wide on the right to draw Ulster level.

Ulster’s well-drilled defence became more of a factor entering the final quarter as they continued to frustrate the hosts, soaking up the pressure, forcing Leicester in-field and containing dangerous runners like Vereniki Goneva and Anthony Allen.

Ulster drew a penalty for offside with little over 10 minutes remaining and Pienaar – kicking from just inside the visitors’ half – coolly split the posts from a range of 52 metres.

That kick proved to be the difference between the sides in the end as Ulster, with their strong bench having an impact, frustrated Leicester into submission.

There were some tremendous moments late on to warm the Ulster fans present as workhorse centre Luke Marshall barrelled away from Julian Salvi and two more Tigers to get Ulster on the move again.

There were lusty cheers from the visiting supporters when superior scrummaging from the province forced a key 78th minute penalty in their own half, and there was no way back for Richard Cockerill’s charges.

The result means Ulster will host their first European quarter-final in Belfast since they won the tournament 15 years ago – Mark McCall’s Saracens side will be the visitors at a fully-renovated Ravenhill in early April.