THE ULSTER players walked from the field at the Gnoll last Saturday at the end of their Heineken European Cup tie against Neath, disappointment etched on their faces, frustration and justifiable anger in hearts and minds. A try in the second minute of injury time by loose head prop Leighton Gerrard had given the home side a two-point Victory and that dealt a major blow to Ulster's hopes of winning a place in the quarter-finals. They meet Brive at Ravenhill next Saturday in the final group match.

The prelude to the winning score was a tactical error by Ulster, but that Ulster at that point held only a three-point advantage was a striking indictment of one of the worst displays of refereeing I have ever seen at this level of the game. Charles Muir, of Scotland, would do well to study a video of this match; what is more important, those who appointed him should do so.

This was not alone refereeing by crowd control on occasions it was also an abject failure to apply the laws notably in ruck and maul allied to a string of other errors and gross inconsistency.

Twelve months ago the Castres president threatened to take his side off the field during a European Cup match against Swansea because of Muir's performance. Ulster did not resort to any such threat on this occasion, but there was no doubt that their players and officials felt his ineptitude had cost them the match.

Ulster manager Ken Reid, not a man given to unjust criticism, simply could not hide his feelings after the match, and his comments were shared unanimously by the Ulster players and officials.

"I just cannot believe we lost that match. I am bitterly disappointed for our players. They gave so much out there and unquestionably deserved to win. Yes, we made mistakes, including one just before they got the winning try by trying to attack through the backs at the wrong time.

I do not make it a habit of criticising referees, but this was just too much to take. Quite frankly I am staggered at some of the decisions I have seen out there. We had four tries disallowed and I have grave doubts about two of those decisions.

But quite apart from that aspect. however frustrating it is, his refereeing was just incredible."

Was he referring to the rucks and mauls in particular? "You saw for yourself. yes I am specifically referring to those aspects and, as I have said, it was just incredible." And so indeed it was.

One shared the manager's sense of annoyance and felt for the players. Apart from one brief spell, Ulster enjoyed territorial advantage and won more and better possession for most of this match. Once more Jeremy Davidson won some excellent line out possession, and the forwards played well in ruck and maul when they were allowed by the eccentric application of the laws.

Den is McBride had a very good match and his bravery and facility to win the ball on the ground were notable features of his play. Andrew Matchett put an early mistake behind him and gave David Humphreys a very good service and, apart from two loose kicks early on, Humphreys yet again underlined his quality.

Once more Mark McCall produced a performance of quality and showed no inhibitions about his recent shoulder injury. He was twice deprived of tries when the referee decreed he had been the recipient of forward passes: one of those decisions was, to say the least, extremely doubtful. McCall had first got over in the right corner and subsequently made a superb break through the centre.

He was also most unfortunate when he could not hold a pass with the line open, but unfortunately the pass was badly directed at his feet. McCall got able support from his partner, Maurice Field, and James Topping and Jan Cunningham were never less than industrious. Full back Robin Morrow was very assured in his handling.

This was not by any means a match of the highest quality, and a few heavy showers made it difficult for the players. But it was a match Ulster would not have been flattered to win by 10 points.

Humphreys gave Ulster an early lead with a penalty. Then, after Matchett had a relieving kick blocked down, Neath got a footing deep in Ulster territory; after three tapped penalties, Steve Williams, among the best of the Neath forwards, got over for a try which Gerraint Davies converted.

Apart from the period immediately prior to and just after that score, Ulster had the better of this match.

An interval deficit of 6-7 - Humphreys kicked a second penalty in the 22nd minute did not reflect the trend of the match. But McCall's two disallowed tries and a few lost opportunities proved costly. Ten minutes into the second half Gerraint Davies kicked a penalty for Neath.

But in the 63rd minute justice was done when Ulster got the try they had deserved. That came after Ulster scorned a chance to kick a penalty from in front of the posts, Ulster's superior scrummaging opened the way for a try by Matchett. Humphreys converted and Ulster led 13-10.

Ulster continued to exercise control and a great run down the left by Cunningham saw him get over the Neath line, but the touch judge decreed he had put a foot in touch. Humphreys missed a long range penalty that would have put Ulster six points clear.

But with the match in injury time, Ulster had a scrum inside the Neath half. The ball was won. but McKinty tried to start an attack on the short side. It was a ball that should have been kicked down field. Ulster lost possession and Neath made the most of it.

They got down near the Ulster line and very short clearance gave them a line out. They won possession and drove forward and prop Gerrard got the crucial try, coming in between two of his colleagues.