Ulster end Quins' run

Harlequins' unbeaten record in this season's Heineken Cup has come to an end after Ulster scored a 21-10 victory in their Pool Four match at a wet and windy Ravenhill.

Tries from Darren Cave and Rory Best undid the Guinness Premiership side, as, potentially, did a decision by coach Dean Richards to substitute fly-half Nick Evans late in the game when they could conceivably have snatched a Stade Francais-style win.

Although Quins had the best of the atrocious conditions in the second half, replacement Chris Malone still missed a penalty and was then charged down - Best's score putting his side out of sight.

Richards' outfit could have booked themselves a place in the quarter-finals with another victory; as it stands, Stade could pull within a point if they beat the Scarlets on Sunday.

Ulster made a dream start and scored in the very first minute when outside centre Cave received an offload from Paddy Wallace and cut inside to exploit a huge gap in Quins' defence.

Humphreys added the extras and the fly-half emphasised the positive start the home side were making by kicking a penalty in the ninth minute after Nick Easter was adjudged offside.

Shoving

Fisticuffs between Easter and Stephen Ferris blew into a full-scale shoving match moments later but, with order eventually restored by referee Romain Poite, Harlequins set about redressing the balance.

Stringing phases together for the first time in the match, they advanced into the home half but, gaining a penalty in the 17th minute after Ulster turned the ball over illegally, Evans' kick caught a strong crosswind and drifted right of the posts.

The conditions were against the visitors in the opening half and hampered their attempts to relieve Ulster pressure - a Mike Brown clearance after 24 minutes being caught by a strong gust and barely clearing the halfway line.

Quins were also conceding turnovers, with strong Ulster counter-rucking almost resulting in Simon Danielli sprinting through on the left-hand flank.

Having lost possession once again, the Premiership team fell further behind just before the half-hour when Humphreys judged the conditions well enough to boot another penalty.

Matters became worse for the visitors five minutes before the break when Danny Care was sin-binned - the scrum-half spotted kicking the ball in the ruck. Humphreys kicked for the corner rather than go for the posts, but the gamble failed to pay off.

However, more indiscipline from Easter saw Humphreys take the direct route right on the stroke of half time and edge Ulster's lead out to 16-0. With the wind now blowing to their advantage, Evans put Quins' first points on the board with a penalty in the 45th minute.

Indeed, with Care back on it now appeared as though Harlequins were capable of establishing a foothold. The opening minutes saw them camped in Ulster's 22 - but they proved unable to close the gap further.

With outside centre Gonzalo Tiesi having departed with a shoulder injury, Quins then won a five-metre scrum. Care was held up after crossing but, with Humphreys - soon to be replaced by Paul Steinmetz - gaining turnover ball, Ulster's attempts to clear resulted in the referee losing patience and awarding a penalty try.

Evacuation

Evans kicked the extras and, within a converted score of victory, the visitors continued to try and exploit conditions now so bad a temporary stand had to be evacuated. Inching towards Ulster's 22, they were awarded a penalty with less than eight minutes remaining.

Richards chose that precise moment to replace Evans with Malone. Suddenly thrown into the deep end, the replacement proved unable to judge the wind and his kick drifted right of the posts.

The contentious decision soon proved disastrous as Malone's attempted clearance was charged down, Ulster's full-blooded charge up the field ending with Best touching down.

Kicking into a howling gale, Steinmetz's conversion attempt never stood a chance - though Ulster already knew they had secured the victory.