The high-flying Ospreys may have found it difficult to soar against the wind in the first-half, but they certainly scaled the heights after the break as they ran in three tries in the opening nine minutes and notched 37 points in 40 minutes. It was the most significant of their victories this season and made it four out of four at the start of the Celtic League campaign. They remain on top of the table, as the only undefeated side, and this win was the first by a Welsh side at Ravenhill since 28 August, 2001.
You had to go back to Llanelli's single point triumph four years ago to find the only Welsh success in this competition in Belfast. But that was before the current league leaders got their act together in the second half. Having fallen behind by 14 points in the first-half, the visitors made the most of Neil Best's 10 minute trip to the sin-bin by running in three tries in nine minutes at the start of the second period. It was a sensational recovery and one in which Gavin Henson once again made his mark.
While the returning Ulster hero David Humphreys had conducted a No 10 master class in the first half, the irrepressible Henson extended his mounting reputation with a second half performance right out of the top drawer. Humphreys drew first blood with a neat chip over the top to give his wing Andy Maxwell something to chase. The ball bounced kindly for him and he simply drew in the Ospreys full back Adrian Durston before sending his full back Bryn Cunningham in for a try which Humphreys converted.
The outside half showed off his handling skills 20 minutes later when he released the ball in the face of a thundering tackle to send No 8 Roger Wilson racing into the Ospreys 22 to pave the way for Maggs to bag a debut try. Humphreys added the conversion and the league leaders were looking very ordinary. But they got a glimmer of light just before the break when Best was sent to the sin-bin. Just before the break.
It took just 30 seconds for them to punish Best as they spread an Ulster turn over from the re-start wide to the Wales wing Shane Williams, who raced past Paul Shields and then stepped inside Cunningham to score. Six minutes later David Bishop barged his way over from close range and then skipper Barry Williams intercepted on his own 22 to pave the way for a brilliant handling move that ended with Dave Tiueti getting a third try in the space of nine minutes. Better still, Henson goaled all three to put the Welshmen ahead for the first time.
Humphreys conjured up another score with a cross kick that allowed Campbell Feather to score. Ireland's record points scorer then added the conversion off the touchline. Henson used the wind to his advantage to restore the lead for the Ospreys when he hit the mark from six metres inside his own half. Then Wales centre Sonny Parker left Cunningham for dead as he raced in for the bonus point try which Henson converted.
Ulster had a mountain to climb, and reduced the deficit with another Humphreys penalty, but Henson had the final word with another penalty of his own and an injury time drop goal.
Scorers: Ulster: Tries: B Cunningham, K Maggs, C Feather; Cons: D Humphreys 3; Pen: D Humphreys; Ospreys: Tries: S Williams, D Bishop, D Tiueti, S Parker; Cons: G Henson 4; Pens: G Henson 2; DG: G Henson
Ulster: B Cunningham (P Wallace 60); T Bowe; J Bell; K Maggs, A Maxwell (T Howe 44); D Humphreys, N Doak (K Campbell 51); S Best, P Shields (N Brady 70), R Moore, M Mustchin (R Frost 55), M McCullough, A Ward (captain, C Feather 35), N Best, R Wilson.
Ospreys: A Durston; D Tiueti (R Mustoe 79), D Bishop, S Parker, S Williams; G Henson, J Spice; P James, B Williams (captain, M Davies 80), A Jones (A Millward 65), A Newman (L Tait 80), L Bateman, A Lloyd, S Tandy (R Pugh 65), R Jones (J Bater 41)
Referee: David Changleng (Scotland)
