ULSTER have moved to within three points of Leinster at the top of the PRO14 standings after making it five wins from five with an impressive 40-15 bonus point victory over Glasgow Warriors at Kingspan Stadium last night.
It was a case of mission accomplished by half-time by which stage Dan McFarland's team had racked up four tries and the extra point.
The depleted visitors - missing more than 20 players due to Scotland call ups and injury - took a surprise lead in the fifth minute after an enterprising start.
Following a line out they surged forward and, after Tom Gordon had carried to within a couple of yards from the line, No. 8 TJ Loane went over for Peter Horne to convert and make it 7-0.
Ulster enjoyed a decent spell of possession after that setback and, following a line out maul after Glasgow had been penalised for offside, they responded with a score of their own in the 12th minute.
Hooker John Andrew touched down from close range and John Cooney levelled matters off the tee.
The hosts went close to adding a second try shortly afterwards when Matt Faddes was unable to gather his own kick ahead due to an awkward bounce after Michael Lowry had been instrumental in the move.
But it was Glasgow who regained the lead as the game entered the second quarter, Horne kicking over a penalty after Andrew had been pinged for holding on to the ball while defending a line out.
The hosts again delivered a positive response after Ian Madigan had kicked a penalty into touch in the 25th minute.
From the resulting line out maul, this time it was Marcell Coetzee - celebrating his return from injury - who spun over the whitewash after Andrew had done the spadework and Cooney added the extras to make it 14-10.
In the 37th minute, Ulster captain Sam Carter got his team's third try of the night after Cooney had released him following a five-metre scrum and Cooney again succeeded from the tee.
Glasgow were reduced to 14 men shortly afterwards when Niko Matawalu was binned for a deliberate knock on.
Ulster quickly took advantage when Cooney went over unchallenged for the bonus point try after an assist from Madigan and the scrum-half converted to make it 28-10 at half time.
Five minutes after the interval, Sean Reidy made it four tries for the pack when he touched down after a great move involving Cooney, Lowry and Andrew.
Matt Faddes got try number six after running on to his own kick in the 56th minute for Cooney to convert and put 30 points between the sides.
With Lowry in the bin for a deliberate knock forward, Grant Stewart got a consolation try for Glasgow five minutes later from a maul.
But that minor blip didn't take the gloss off a hugely impressive Ulster performance as they maintained their 100% record for the new season in style, albeit against seriously under-strength opposition.
