Fast start boosts Ulster

Ulster scored four first-half tries on their way to a bonus-point win over Treviso that keeps them in touch with the top four in the Magners League.

Ruan Pienaar, Nevin Spence, Adam D'Arcy and Rory Best all crossed in an impressive first 34 minutes and outside-half Ian Humphreys contributed 12 points with the boot, although the hosts failed to add a single point after the break.

After an early exchange of penalties, Ulster opted to take a quick throw from a long Treviso drop out with Humphreys' throw launching Andrew Trimble on a powerful run up the right wing.

The Ireland international linked with Willie Faloon and then quick hands from Best allowed Pienaar to scamper over the line for a great counter-attacking score. Humphreys added the conversion.

Willem De Waal then slotted Treviso's second penalty but, from there, Ulster continued to push on. With a little more than 20 minutes gone, Humphreys kicked a penalty from the halfway line via the upright and this seemed to spur the home side on to greater deeds with ball in hand.

Ulster's second try duly arrived after they had moved the ball right on the narrow side, Humphreys changing the angle of attack with an inside pass to D'Arcy that cut Treviso wide open.

The full-back threw an ambitious pass to Spence who failed to collect but kicked the ball at Kristopher Burton. The Treviso full-back missed it and Spence pounced to score near the posts.

Ulster managed their third score when Trimble's burst put Pienaar in space and, though the Springbok checked instead of taking Andrew Vilk on the outside, Ulster recycled and D'Arcy dived over at the posts.

Inevitable

At 27-6, the bonus point looked inevitable and it came six minutes before half-time when Best scored from a lineout drive in the left corner.

Ulster's intensity dropped after that blistering opening 40 and Treviso managed to rumble Gonzalo Pedro over the line on 48 minutes, De Waal's conversion making it 32-13 to the home side.

Ulster then allowed an element of sloppiness to creep into their game, exemplified by a poor piece of play from Simon Danielli which allowed Treviso to lay siege to the home side's line.

The loss of Trimble to an apparent knock on the thigh also did not help the home side's cause and with Treviso bringing on an entirely fresh front row, the Italians managed to get on top.

Only some great defensive work from Chris Henry saved two scores - the latter when Fabio Semenzato was actually over the line late in the game - but Henry and Dan Tuohy managed to prevent the touchdown.