Ulster made a terrific start to their Magners League campaign as they defeated defending champions Ospreys by a single point at Ravenhill on Friday night.
Ulster 27- 26 Ospreys
The home side led by two points at half time after tries from Stephen Ferris and Darren Cave.
Fly half Niall O'connor had a personal tally of 17 points including the match-winning penalty.
In the Ulster line-up, Australian Adam D'Arcy, who has just been handed a contract, retained his place at full-back after an impressive showing last week against Leeds.
Tommy Seymour switched to the right wing in place of the injured Craig Gilroy, David McIlwaine came in on the left wing while Paul Marshall returned at scrumhalf having recovered from a shoulder injury sustained in the opening friendly against Bath last month.
Up front there was no change to the starting line-up that defeated Leeds in the final pre-season friendly last week.
Irish tourists Tom Court and Paddy Wallace were named on the bench while prop Paddy McAllister who sustained a neck and back injury against Bath in the first of Ulster's pre-season friendlies was been passed fit to play.
Brian McLaughlin's side fell behind after only four minutes when Ospreys fly half Dan Biggar landed a penalty but Niall O'Connor replied in kind seven minutes later to tie things up.
Ferris got the first try of the night in the 18th minute when he capitalised after Ospreys skipper Jerry Collins dropped the ball at a line-out allowing the flanker to cross the line unchallenged.
O'Connor added the extra two points and then landed a penalty to put his side 13-3 ahead in the 23rd minute.
Four minutes later however the Ospreys cut the deficit through Biggar's second penalty of the night.
Then in the 31st minute Collins made up for his earlier error when he began the move that resulted in the overlapping Richard Fussell going over in the corner and Biggar levelled the scores with the conversion.
But Cave got Ulster's second try shortly afterwards after picking up a pass from D'Arcy and selling a neat dummy though O'Connor missed with the kick.
Biggar, who was in fine form with the boot, again reduced the margin in the 40th minute with a penalty.
Within 10 seconds of the restart Ulster were awarded a penalty and O'Connor duly obliged to make it 21-16.
But Ulster conceded a 'soft' try less than three minutes later when Biggar went over after some sloppy defending and converted the try himself as the Welsh side led for the second time in the match.
However O'Connor replied with a successful penalty attempt in the 55th minute as the lead changed hands again.
Biggar then sent over another penalty seven minutes later to put his team into a two point lead.
With eight minutes left O'Connor made it 17 points for the night when he added his fifth penalty to make it 27-26 in Ulster's favour.
Ulster finished the game on the defensive but they held on for a memorable victory.
ULSTER: A D'Arcy; T Seymour, D Cave, I Whitten, D McIlwaine; N O'Connor, P Marshall; B Young, R Best (Capt), D Fitzpatrick, J Muller, T Barker, S Ferris, W Faloon, P Wannenburg
Replacements: N Brady, T Court, P McAllister, R Caldwell, R Diack, I Porter, P Wallace, J Shiels
© UTV News