One small step

You can forget all of your Trafalgar Day parties for the best one was in the Ulster changing rooms as the Ulster players belted out their own version of Stand Up For The Ulstermen. It was a game that they were never ever seriously going to lose from the moment the ball was kicked off, but it was more a question of when and by how many. Though the further the game went, the large crowd was wondering how the European Alliance of the French referee and Italian shenanigans were going to continually disrupt Ulster momentum. Both sides were very wary of the importance of the bonus point. Certainly the French referee saved the Italian champions a thumping time and time again allowing silly time outs and dilly dallying over the simplest of decisions.To be honest this was about as good as it got for long periods of the game. However it sprung to life in the last ten when Neil McMillan went over for the third Ulster try and the bonus point became achievable; Ulster were in no mood to have it snatched from them.

Ulster were in vibrant mood from the kick off but denied by poor handling and a slippery ball, aided and abetted by a too shallow attack given the conditions. Treviso on the other hand started as if they were here to make up the numbers, without being disrespectful, but in fairness it was error strewn play as a result of the intense pressure Ulster were putting the ball carrier under. It was a very physical opening that told the tale of an Italian side made up of Internationals of 6 Nations experience but unaccustomed to being on the receiving end of some very mean and dangerous Ulster forwards. Neil Best had one of his best performances, forgive the pun; given his now accepted high standard he must be close to being the best number 6 in the island and was rightly awarded the Man Of The Match award. Humphries missed a penalty early on after some bright movement by Ulster, particularly Roger Wilson like a rhino on the loose giving Treviso all sorts of problems. But a series of unforced penalties saw any Ulster intentions thwarted by a spurned Treviso. But it was clear for all that the home pack were superior in ability and determination; and gaps were appearing in the visiting defence that were not taken advantage of due to poor handling and silly penalties.

The 'Plank' winning the lineout

Topping on the right was involved in two exciting moves coming from broken play only to be beaten by a forward pass when seemingly in for the first and both were orchestrated by Humphries and the bullocking Maggs playing a key role. But the honour of the first went to the pack when Roger Wilson barged his way over after a typical period of forward dominance, which proved to be the key to Treviso’s undoing in the latter stages. Neil Best was then lucky not to be sent off for a tackle or something that resembled an attempted strangulation on the Treviso number 8 Kingi, who felt very aggrieved about the situation and was grappling on the floor until Fitzpatrick decided to intervene and drive the Italian off the face of the earth earning himself 10 minutes in the bin. This was the start of the musical chairs as players came and went for substitutions and the odd yellow card which lasted the rest of the game. Roger Wilson was also carded for holding in what was to be a precursor for a referee dominated end to the first and continued until the third Ulster try late on in the game. The referee had more of the play that either of the sides so maybe he should have been awarded the Man of The Match. Ulster were threatening but never quite managing. But at least at half time with an unconverted try and a Humphries penalty Ulster were in the lead by 10 points to Treviso nil.

Half time: Ulster 10 Trevio 0

The referee was not exactly streetwise and he continued to dominate the second half like a soon to be retired school mistress, missing countless crooked feeds to the lineout, frustrating players and fans with his fastidiousness much to the glee of the visitors who obviously felt that frustrating Ulster was the key to the bonus. But Ulster remained steadfast and totally focused on the job never allowing themselves to be detracted from their objective. The forward dominance and power of the Ulster pack was no match for the Italians who despite their vaunted experience were beginning to wilt under the onslaught. Rather than kick his penalties Humphries continually and correctly went for touch providing the catalyst for the pack to drive and drive and drive wearing down the opposition like a Matador cruelly chastising and teasing his prey. Ulster heaved and heaved until the line broke and Neil Best powered over for yet another try although unconverted. It may not have been pretty nor were the champagne corks popping but it was necessary. The pack were magnificent.

But with a mere 10 minutes or so on the clock Treviso had lost the bonus and Ulster seemed to have left it too late until more continual forward squeezing extracted the last ounce of defiance out of the Italians as McMillan crashed over in the corner and it was possible. For the first time the game sprang to life. The Ulster men had remained calm and focused with intent and the bonus point so desperately needed was there for the taking as was the final whistle. But the Italians were not finished yet as Williams, like his namesake Shane, was twinkling his toes in yet another Italian counter when an interception by the wonderful Trimble, some hard running, off load to Maggs for the 70 times capped Irish international to crash over as a capacity Ravenhill erupted with delirium and all of the erstwhile frustration was forgotten. Job done; game set and match. Final score Ulster 27 Treviso nil.

It may be a tougher assignment next week especially with Boss potentially out with a hamstring injury and Campbell only at best 50/50. Reece Spee had a decent game but it was not a good performance from Ulster against an over-rated Treviso side bristling with internationals. But if you can win 27:0 and not be at your best you are doing something correctly but there are a lot of areas for improvement such as the breakdown and being turned over too often. Life will be a lot more serious next week when perhaps the toughest mission of the group is undertaken as Biarritz take on the Ulstermen.

ULSTER: 15 - Bryn Cunningham; 14 - Tommy Bowe; 13 - Andrew Trimble; 12 - Kevin Maggs; 11 - James Topping; 10 - David Humphreys; 9 - Issac Boss; 1 - Justin Fitzpatrick; 2 - Rory Best; 3 - Simon Best (Captain); 4 - Justin Harrison; 5 - Matt McCullough; 6 - Neil Best; 7 - Neil McMillan; 8 - Roger Wilson

Replacements: 16 - Nigel Brady; 17 - Bryan Young; 18 - Rowan Frost; 19 -Campbell Feather; 20 - Reece Spee; 21 - Paddy Wallace; 22 - Paul Steinmetz

TREVISO: 15 - Brendan Williams; 14 - Denis Dallan; 13 - Stuart Legg; 12 - Matteo Barbini; 11 - Massimiliano Perziano; 10 - MJ Smith; 9 - Allessandro Troncon; 1 - Augusto Allori; 2 - Alvaro Tejada; 3 - Salvatore Constanzo; 4 - Enrico Pavanello; 5 - Marco Wentzel; 6 - Scott Palmer; 7 - Silvio Orlando;
8 - Dion Kingi

Replacements: 16 - Hernan Mazino; 17 - Fabio Ongaro; 18 - Antonio Pavanello; 19 - Salvatore Garozzo; 20 - Willem Wium; 21 - Gabriel Pizarro; 22 - Simon Picone

Referee: Jean-Pierre Matheu (France).