Ulster secure a bonus point win by thrashing Aironi 30-6
Ulster will be pleased with their start to the Heineken Cup after they beat Aironi 30-6 at Ravenhill.
Ulster picked up an important bonus point thanks to tries from Andrew Trimble, Ian Humphreys, Simon Danielli and Ruan Pienaar.
Ludovic Mercier scored two penalties for the Italian side who could not keep up with the Ulster team.
The Ulstermen got off to the best possible start after Ruan Pienaar kicked over a penalty to put the host’s into an early 3-0 lead.
Ludovic levelled the scores a few moments later after he was awarded a penalty for Ulster crossing. The French fly half extended Aironi’s lead with another penalty to put the away side into a 3-6 lead.
However, that was as good as things would get for Aironi and Ulster seemed to up the tempo after falling behind.
Ulster’s first try came after pressure was put on the Aironi scrum. Robbie Diack pounced on the loose ball and passed to Pienaar who wonderfully found Trimble in the corner with a flick pass. The Irish
international had the easy task of running over and touching down.
Marco Bortolami was binned moments later, but Ulster failed to punish the Italians and only managed a Pienaar penalty before half time to lead Ulster in 11-6 up.
In the second half Ulster were gifted a try when the Aironi number eight Nick Williams failed to deal with Humphreys's kick. The fly half raced on to his own kick and touched down from Williams’ error.
Ulster were now dominating and scored a further try on 60 minutes after some good work by the forwards. Rory Best, Johann Muller and Chris Henry drove forward before the ball was recycled and spun left.
Trimble ran on to the ball with speed before he passed to Danielli. The Scotsman did well to take the pass and stumbled over the line for Ulster’s third try of the match.
Pienaar left the conversion to Humphreys having missed both previous conversions. The Irishman made no mistake and slotted over the conversion from a tight angle.
Ulster earned their bonus point and fourth try after Diack drove through the Aironi defence. This allowed Pienaar to slide in and ensure Ulster went away with five points.
Humphreys added the conversion to make the score 30-6.
Ulster will be delighted to get off to a good start, but they will face a far sterner test in their next game in the Heineken Cup when they visit Biarritz.
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