Ospreys 32 Ulster 7:ULSTER WERE left looking nervously over their shoulder in the Magners League after slumping to a four-try defeat to the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium last night.
Shane Williams continued his remarkable scoring streak to put Ulster to the sword with two second-half tries and leave Matt Williams's men rooted at the wrong end of the table, with only Connacht beneath.
Kieran Dawson briefly offered a glimmer of hope to Ulster with his score to reduce the deficit to 15-7 just four minutes before half-time but the light was emphatically extinguished by Williams and outhalf James Hook, who capped a "man of the match" display with 15 points, including the game's opening try.
Nine of the Wales team that won the Grand Slam started last night but Ulster spent the first 10 minutes camped near the Ospreys line but came away empty-handed after outhalf Niall O'Connor missed his first attempt at goal and Stephen Ferris fumbled at the tail of an attacking scrum.
Hook registered first on the scoreboard after Dawson was warned by referee Peter Allen, who lost patience when Tom Court infringed and flashed the yellow card on 20 minutes.
The Ospreys then shifted into fifth gear as Ulster's defensive patterns were horribly exposed by the pace of the Welsh back line.
Ben Lewis broke clear and Hook danced through three defenders to touch down before adding the conversion.
Just three minutes later Nikki Walker stormed through for another try despite a last-gasp tackle by Mark Bartholemeusz.
Sonny Parker went close to extending the 15-0 lead but Ulster had the last say of the half through Dawson. Tommy Bowe, who will call the Liberty Stadium home next season, streaked through from the blind-side and spilled possession under the challenge of three defenders, but Dawson was on hand to pounce on 36 minutes, O'Connor converting.
That was the last time Ulster were effectively in the game. Hook's long pass released Williams out wide and it was no contest from 40 metres out as the Wales wing hacked on twice.
Ulster face Connacht next in two weeks and coach Matt Williams clearly has work to do before the basement clash.
OSPREYS: J Vaughton; N Walker, S Parker (J Spratt, 70), A Bishop, S Williams; J Hook (S Connor, 73), J Marshall (R Webb, 73); D Jones (P James, 70), H Bennett (R Hibbard, 60), C Griffiths, I Gough, I Evans (AW Jones, 65), T Smith (R Jones, 59), F Tiatia (capt), B Lewis.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, A Trimble, P Wallace (R Dewey, 54), M Bartholomeusz; N O'Connor, I Boss; B Young (T Court, 78), R Best (capt), T Court (D Fitzpatrick, 73, N Brady, 78), J Harrison, R Caldwell, M McCullough (R Wilson, 65), K Dawson (D Fitzpatrick, 28-30, G Webb, 68), S Ferris.
Referee: Peter Allan (SRU).
