Cave double ends Ospreys' run
Two tries from centre Darren Cave ensured Ulster triumphed in a war of attrition with Ospreys, who lost for the first time in the Pro12 this season.
The home side had established an 18-3 lead at the break, but Ospreys got back to within two points as they ramped up the pressure and conditions deteriorated.
But Cave made the points certain with a last-minute score, as Ulster won their fourth game in a row.
Ospreys had equalled their best ever start to a Pro12 season with seven wins from seven, but the loss of 10 players to international duty put paid to Steve Tandy's team's run at the Kingspan Stadium.
Ulster are imperious at home, with just one defeat in front of their own fans since September 2013, and took the lead on 10 minutes when Cave, released earlier this week by Ireland, gathered from a ruck on the line and dived over. Paddy Jackson kicked the extras.
The 22-year-old flyhalf added two more penalties, but Sam Davies finally gave Ospreys a foothold in the game when he nailed his 30-metre kick after half an hour.
The league leaders' night went from bad to worse before the interval, with Duncan Jones forced off with an injury to his left knee suffered innocuously at a line-out.
And, on the stroke of half-time, the home side scored again. This time Franco van der Merwe crossed after Clive Ross helped him over the line, though Jackson missed the posts for the first time to leave Ulster with an 18-3 advantage at the interval.
The home side were a shadow of themselves in the second half. And, as indiscipline crept into their game, Ospreys profited.
Martin Roberts started the visitors comeback four minutes after the restart, crossing at close range following a maul. Davies added the extras.
On the hour Davies saw a penalty sail over. And the league leaders moved to within two points two minutes later when Davies' faultless left foot made it four from four.
Ulster flyhalf Jackson walked down the tunnel clutching his arm with 15 minutes remaining as Ulster, so dominant in the first half, looked like the pressure had got to them.
But on 79 minutes Cave side-stepped a challenge and went over for his second try after Ulster enjoyed a rare period of pressure, much to the relief of the vociferous home crowd. Replacement flyhalf Ian Humphreys' kick completing the win.
* In other Friday action All Black Mils Muliaina tasted victory on his Connacht debut, as the Irishmen clocked up a bonus-point win over Zebre at the Sportsground.
* Munster continued their impressive start to the Pro12 season as they comfortably swept aside Newport Gwent Dragons at Rodney Parade thanks to five different try scorers.
* Rory Pitman came off the replacements bench to decide a dogged contest at Parc y Scarlets as the hosts overturned high-flying Glasgow Warriors.
All Friday's scores and scorers!
Newport Gwent Dragons 12-38 Munster
The scorers:
For Newport Gwent Dragons:
Pens: G Jones 4
For Munster:
Tries: Copeland, Casey 2, Smith, O'Mahony
Cons: Keatley 5
Pen: Keatley
Teams:
Newport Gwent Dragons: 15 Geraint Rhys Jones, 14 Tyler Morgan, 13 Ross Wardle, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Richie Rees, 8 Lewis Evans, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 James Thomas, 5 Rynard Landman (captain), 4 Cory Hill, 3 Dan Way, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Brok Harris.
Replacements: 16 T Rhys Thomas, 17 Owen Evans, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Ollie Griffiths, 21 Jonathan Evans, 22 Jason Tovey, 23 Ashton Hewitt.
Munster: 15 JJ Hanrahan, 14 Andrew Conway, 13 Andrew Smith, 12 Denis Hurley, 11 Ronan O'Mahony, 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Cathal Sheridan, 8 Robin Copeland, 7 Sean Dougall, 6 Paddy Butler, 5 Billy Holland, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (captain), 3 Stephen Archer, 2 Eusebio Guiñazú, 1 John Ryan.
Replacements: 16 Duncan Casey, 17 Alan Cotter, 18 BJ Botha, 19 Dave O'Callaghan, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Duncan Williams, 22 Pat Howard, 23 Johne Murphy.
Referee: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
Assistant referees: Simon Rees (Wales), Martyn Lewis (Wales)
TMO: Russell Howell (Wales)
Connacht 43-3 Zebre
The scorers:
For Connacht:
Tries: Poolman, Kearney, Penalty try, Cooney, Carty
Cons: Porter, Nikora, Carty
Pens: Porter 4
For Zebre:
Pen: Odiete
Yellow cards: Filippo Cristiano (Zebre, 25), Andries Ferreira (Zebre, 60), Andrea Lovotti (Zebre, 61)
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Dave McSharry, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Ian Porter, 8 George Naoupu, 7 Willie Faloon, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Mick Kearney, 3 Ronan Loughney, 2 Jason Harris-Wright, 1 Denis Buckley
Replacements: 16 Dave Heffernan, 17 Tom McCartney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 Eoin McKeon, 21 John Cooney, 22 Jack Carty, 23 Darragh Leader
Zebre: 15 Hendrik Daniller, 14 David Odiete, 13 Giulio Bisegni, 12 Matteo Pratichetti, 11 Michele Visentin, 10 Edoardo Padovani, 9 Brendon Leonard, 8 Andries Van Schalkwyk, 7 Filippo Cristiano, 6 Mauro Bergamasco (captain), 5 Valerio Bernabò, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 Luca Redolfini, 2 Oliviero Fabiani, 1 Andrea De Marchi
Replacements: 16 Roberto Santamaria, 17 Andrea Lovotti, 18 Luciano Leibson, 19 Jacopo Sarto, 20 Braam Steyn, 21 Alberto Chillon, 22 Dion Berryman, 23 Mirco Bergamasco
Referee: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Assistant referees: Andy Brace (Ireland), Olly Hodges (Ireland)
TMO: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
Scarlets 19-9 Glasgow Warriors
The scorers:
For Scarlets:
Try: Pitman
Con: S Shingler
Pens: S Shingler 4
For Glasgow Warriors:
Pens: Horne 3
Teams:
Scarlets: 15 Steffan Evans, 14 Harry Robinson, 13 Regan King, 12 Gareth Owen, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Steven Shingler, 9 Aled Davies, 8 John Barclay (captain), 7 James Davies, 6 Aaron Shingler, 5 Johan Snyman, 4 George Earle, 3 Peter Edwards, 2 Kirby Myhill, 1 Rob Evans.
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Phil John, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Rob McCusker, 20 Rory Pitman, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Steffan Hughes.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Peter Murchie, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 James Downey, 11 Rory Hughes, 10 Peter Horne, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Josh Strauss, 5 Al Kellock (captain), 4 Tom Ryder, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Pat MacArthur, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Jon Welsh, 18 Rossouw de Klerk, 19 James Eddie, 20 Tyrone Holmes, 21 Niko Matawalu, 22 Connor Braid, 23 Glenn Bryce.
Referee: David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Craig Evans (Wales), Jon Mason (Wales)
TMO: Tim Hayes (Wales)
Ulster 25-16 Ospreys
The scorers:
For Ulster:
Tries: Cave 2, Van der Merwe
Cons: Jackson, Humphreys
Pens: Jackson 2
For Ospreys:
Try: Roberts
Con: Davies
Pens: Davies 3
Teams:
Ulster: 15 Stuart Olding, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Darren Cave, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Craig Gilroy, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 Roger Wilson (captain), 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Clive Ross, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Callum Black.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Alan O'Connor, 20 Nick Williams, 21 Michael Heaney, 22 Ian Humphreys, 23 Peter Nelson.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Tom Grabham, 13 Andrew Bishop, 12 Ashley Beck, 11 Aisea Natoga, 10 Sam Davies, 9 Martin Roberts, 8 Dan Baker, 7 Sam Lewis, 6 James King, 5 Rynier Bernardo, 4 Lloyd Peers (captain), 3 Dmitri Arhip, 2 Sam Parry, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dwyer, 17 Marc Thomas, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Rory Thornton, 20 Ifereimi Boladau, 21 Ieuan Jones, 22 Tom Habberfield, 23 Hanno Dirksen.
Referee: Neil Hennessy (Wales)
Assistant referees: Nigel Correll (Ireland), Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
TMO: Kevin Beggs (Ireland)