Rampant Ulster top Pool
Ulster took over top spot in Pool Four of the Heineken Cup courtesy of a 46-20 victory over winless Aironi in Italy.
Last Updated: 22/12/11 2:20pm
Ulster took over top spot in Pool Four of the Heineken Cup courtesy of a 46-20 victory over winless Aironi in Italy on Saturday afternoon.
The Irish outfit ran in five tries, three of those coming in the first half, and with 10 minutes remaining they secured what could prove to be a vital bonus point.
The 1999 Heineken Cup winners should have taken the lead inside five minutes, but Andrew Trimble inexplicably failed to ground the ball properly and the try was disallowed.
However, Trimble made amends two minutes later when he scored underneath the posts from Ian Humphrey's cut-out pass, which the fly-half converted before adding two penalties.
Relief
Luciano Orquera got Aironi on the board with a penalty, but on 24 minutes they conceded a penalty try for pulling down an Ulster maul.
Ulster grabbed their third try on the stroke of half-time when Tom Court burrowed over to give them a 27-3 interval lead, but they were much less clinical after the break, and were punished when Aironi registered two tries in three minutes.
Wing Sinoti Sinoti scored in the corner on 58 minutes, before Roberto Quartaroli intercepted inside his own half and raced clear.
With 10 minutes remaining, Ulster breathed a sigh of relief when Craig Gilroy touched down out wide, earning them a bonus point.
George Biagi grabbed a consolation score but Ulster had the final say, replacements Robbie Diack and Adam Macklin running in late tries.
The result leaves Ulster in pole position in Pool Four as Aironi remain pointless at the foot of the table going into the final two fixtures against Leicester and Clermont Auvergne.
