MAGNER'S LEAGUE - ULSTER 53 CONNACHT 13: ULSTER'S REVIVAL under Matt Williams continued in a ruthless fashion at Ravenhill last night with a seven-try rout over a hapless Connacht side as the northern province moved into fourth place in the Magners League table.
The game had been billed as a crucial showdown in the battle to secure Ireland's third Heineken Cup place next season, but the ease with which Ulster ripped Michael Bradley's side to pieces without getting out of third gear suggests Williams' side will now fancy their chances of mounting a credible challenge for the title.
The five-point win sees Ulster leapfrog the Scarlets, who lost at home to Munster, Cardiff, who lost 28-0 at Glasgow, as well as Edinburgh despite Andy Robinson's side's impressive 32-16 win over the Ospreys. Williams' men are now three points clear of Leinster, who entertain the Dragons tonight.
Tries by Stephen Ferris, Timoci Nagusa, Simon Danielli (2), Mark McCrea, Darren Cave and Bryn Cunningham, as well as 18 points from the boot of Ian Humphreys in a near perfect kicking display, sealed the win as Ulster won their third Magners League game in a row for the first time since they were champions in 2006.
Connacht headed to Belfast looking for their first win at Ravenhill since John F Kennedy was elected president 48 years ago, but on this evidence the westerners could be waiting another 48 years.
Not even a gift of a try just before half-time for Fionn Carr could keep Connacht in the game.
Ian Keatley, who was a huge disappointment in the face of some fierce Ulster pressure, also slotted two penalties and a conversion, but the visitors' inability to contest the breakdown, and some woeful defending, allowed Ulster to romp to a victory without ever putting together any cutting patterns.
Ulster could even afford to lose Paddy Wallace, who retired in the second minute after a clash of heads with Ryan Caldwell, and Nagusa, who limped off with a hamstring injury, in the first half and still maintain the upper hand, with wing Danielli looking like he had never been away.
A Humphreys penalty had settled Ulster's early nerves and it didn't take Ulster long to strike again with Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris charging over after Frank Murphy coughed up the ball under pressure from David Pollock.
SCORING SEQUENCE:8 mins: I Humphreys pen, 3-0; 14: S Ferris try, Humphreys con; 10-0; 18: I Keatley pen, 10-3; 20: T Nagusa try, Humphreys con, 17-3; 37: F Carr try, Keatley con, 17-10; 40: Humphreys pen, 20-10; 43: Keatley pen, 20-13; 53: S Danielli try, Humphreys con, 27-13; 57: M McCrea try, Humphreys con, 34-17; 70: Danielli try, Humphreys con, 41-17; 74: D Cave try, Humphreys con, 48-13; 78: B Cunningham try, 53-13.
ULSTER:B Cunningham; T Nagusa (S Danielli 37), D Cave, P Wallace, M McCrea; I Humphreys, C Willis (I Boss 66); J Fitzpatrick (T Court 58), R Best (capt) (N Brady 58), B Botha, E O'Donoghue, R Caldwell, S Ferris (M McCullough 62), D Pollock, R Diack.
CONNACHT:G Duffy (capt); F Carr, M Deane (J Hearty 72), K Matthews, T Nathan; I Keatley (T Donnelly 55), F Murphy; B Wilkinson, S Cronin (A Flavin 72), R Morris (R Loughney 39), M McCarthy, A Farley, R Ofisa, J O'Connor, C Rigney.
Referee:P Fitzgibbon (IRFU).
