They battled valiantly with the reigning Celtic (Magners) League champions in their own back yard and the only reward was a superb mauled try for hooker and captain John Fogarty. Connacht dominated the first half and were competitve all through the second, yet with a decent amount of posession yet again the backs main contribution was the extra points garneered by Warwick with a snap drop-goal in the first half and McHugh who converted Fogarty's try.

Yet one wonders how a top class finisher or two in this squad would make this team into serious contenders instead of also ran's.

Enough speculating, here's some match reports from around the web (Click on the links for the ful reports)...

Ulster 20 Connacht 10

From www.connachtrugby.ie

26/12/2006

Connacht left Ravenhill empty-handed despite producing one of their bravest performances of the season.

Michael Bradley’s men produced a performance that was full of character and which for long periods looked like it might be enough to secure a first win at the Belfast venue since 1960.

But in the end Connacht left without even a bonus point, their sense of grievance all the greater after Ulster were awarded a third try despite a blatant forward pass and a knock-on in the build-up.

Connacht did most of the pressing in the opening half and created the better chances, but the sides turned around level at 3-3. They went ahead after three minutes when Paul Warwick landed a drop goal with his left foot. David Humphreys equalised with a penalty after 21 minutes on Ulster's first visit to the Connacht 22.

Excellent defence by Connacht in the closing stages of the opening half kept Ulster at bay as they came more into the game, while Keith Matthews was unable to make Connacht's best try scoring chance count a minute from the interval after a superb break by Warwick.

Interval replacement Tommy Bowe crossed for the first of his two tries seven minutes after the restart with Paddy Wallace, a half-time replacement for Humphreys, landing the touchline conversion after putting Bowe away for the try.

But the Connacht pack, superb all night, hit back four minutes later. Andrew Farley won a lineout and Connacht drove Ulster from outside their 22, with superb skipper John Fogarty getting the touchdown. Mark McHugh added the points to level the match after 52 minutes.

However, Bowe put Ulster back in front after 57 minutes with another burst down the right and they sealed victory six minutes from time when Neil Best got the touchdown.

SCORERS:

Ulster:

Tries: Bowe (2), N Best

Con: Wallace

Pen: Humphreys

Connacht:

Try: Fogarty

Con: McHugh

Drop goal: Warwick

Ulster: 15 - Bryn Cunningham; 14 - Mark Bartholomeusz; 13 - Paul Steinmetz; 12 - Kevin Maggs; 11 - Andrew Trimble; 10 - David Humphreys; 9 - Kieran Campbell; 1 - Justin Fitzpatrick; 2 - Paul Shields; 3 - Simon Best (Captain); 4 - Justin Harrison; 5 - Tim Barker; 6 - Neil Best; 7 - Neil McMillan; 8 - Roger Wilson

Replacements: T Bowe for Cunningham, 30 mins; P Wallace for Humphreys, half-time; R Best for Shields, 42 mins; B Young for Fitzpatrick, 42 mins; M McCullough for Barker, 53 mins; I Boss for Campbell, 56 mins; K Dawson for McMillan, 68 mins.

Connacht: 15 - Daniel Riordan, 14 - Darren Yapp, 13 - Paul Warwick, 12 - Gavin Williams,  11 - Keith Matthews; 10 - Mark McHugh, 9 - Chris Keane; 1 - Brett Wilkinson, 2 - John Fogarty, 3 - Brett Sturgess; 4 - David Gannon, 5 - Andrew Farley; 6 - John Muldoon, 7 - Ray Ofisa, 8 - Colm Rigney.

Replacements: John Hearty for Riordan, 61 mins; Mike Swift for Rigney, 61 mins; Adrian Flavin for Fogarty, 77 mins.

Referee: Alain Rolland.