If there was ever a game to demonstrate the merits of the Celtic League then this was it.

It was an exhilarating contest from start to finish, with Ulster's David Humphreys once again delivering a top-drawer performance, landing 28 points as the visitors were blown away by irresistible second-half pressure.

While Humphreys took the limelight, the key to their victory was their captain Andy Ward, who almost single-handedly took hold of the game midway through the second half as the lead swapped sides. And his try, fielding a superb cross-kick over the line by Humphreys, nine minutes from the end at last put clear water between the two sides.

Ulster then went down to 14 men when prop Simon Best was sent to the sin-bin and Neath out-half Lee Jarvis, who kicked a total of 19 points, set up a tense finish with a monster penalty from inside his own half.

But it was Ulster who finished the game on top and Humphreys sealed the thrilling victory with an injury-time penalty.

Such a finish had not looked on the cards when Ulster struggled to contain Neath during the first half. The home side had been forced to make a late change to their starting line-up, with James Topping forced to pull out with a groin-strain picked up during a training run-out yesterday and Sheldon Coulter deputising.

Neath began in dangerous form, with outhalf Lee Jarvis controlling things and Tongan international centre Dave Tiueti making powerful incursions.

But Ulster slowly shook off the cobwebs from their lack of a competitive fixture for four weeks.

A slick move saw Paddy Wallace show a tremendous burst of pace into the line and Tyrone Howe almost squeezed into the corner.

It was the momentum Ulster required.

Playing behind a strong wind, Humphreys then landed three monster penalties, one from almost 10 metres inside his own half.

But Neath continued to threaten and the visitors struck with the opening try of the contest when Andy Moore dived over. Jarvis added the conversion.

Ulster responded with Humphreys' fourth penalty to extend the lead to five points. But, after Jarvis responded with one of his own, Neath went in front in the 32nd minute. Tiueti cut through and side-stepped Wallace. Jarvis again converted.

Humphreys was able to cut the deficit with his fifth penalty in the 36th minute. And just before half-time Mark Blair restored the lead.

Humphreys kicked his sixth penalty after the break, but Jarvis responded in kind. Two penalties and a drop-goal restored the visitors' lead. Humphreys' seventh penalty put Ulster in front again before the nail-biting finale.

SCORING SEQUENCE: 12 mins: Humphreys pen, 3-0; 14 mins: Humphreys pen, 6-0; 15 mins: Humphreys pen, 9-0; 23 mins: Moore try, Jarvis conversion, 9-7; 24 mins: Humphreys pen, 12-7; 30 mins: Jarvis pen, 12-10; 32 mins: Tiueti try, Jarvis conversion, 12-17; 36 mins: Humphreys pen, 15-17; 40 mins: Blair try, Humphreys conversion, 22-17; 44 mins: Humphreys pen, 25-17; 47 mins: Jarvis pen, 25-20. 58 mins: Jarvis drop-goal, 25-23. 64 mins: Jarvis pen, 25-26. 66 mins: Humphreys pen, 28-26; 71 mins: Ward try, Humphreys conversion, 35-26; 73 mins: Jarvis pen, 35-29. 79 min: Humphreys pen, 38-29.

ULSTER: P Wallace; S Coulter (R Constable 51), A Larkin, J Bell, T Howe; D Humphreys, N Doak; J Fitzpatrick, P Shields, S Best (C Boyd 8-16), G Longwell, M Blair (J Davidson 61), T McWhirter (N McMillan 61), A Ward, R Nelson (C Boyd 72).

NEATH: G Morris, K James, D Tiueti, J Storey, S Williams (S Connor 40); L Jarvis, A Moore; D Jones, B Williams, A Millward, G Llewellyn, A Mocelutu, B Sinkinson (S Tandy 71), N Bonner-Evans.

Referee: T Spreadbury (RFU)