ULSTER OPEN WITH WIN

Ulster defeated Ospreys 27-26 in a thrilling contest. First-half tries by Stephen Ferris and Darren Cave, plus six kicks by Niall O’Connor, proved just enough.

After Ferris got the opening try, Richard Fussell overlapped for the first Ospreys touchdown but Cave put Ulster 18-16 ahead at half-time.

Centre Andrew Bishop hacked the ball on for Dan Biggar, who also kicked 16 points, to get Ospreys’ second try. “It was a brilliant second half. We had our backs to the wall but we got stuck in and came away with the result we wanted,” said Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin.