Ulster defeated Northampton 16-13 at Ravenhill tonight but the visitors qualify for the quarter finals as group winners due to their superior try count. Northampton's superior try-count takes them through, while French champions Biarritz can now only hope for one of the two best placed runners-up places with a try-feast at home to Cardiff tomorrow.
Ulster, champions in 1999, who went into the game requiring to win by four clear tries to top the pool, might have pushed the Saints much closer had they made more use of the lion's share of possession they enjoyed in the first half.
In the 22nd minute flanker Neil McMillan finally found the breakthrough for Ulster, touching down under the posts after a sniping break from Neil Doak and Humphreys added the conversion. Paul Grayson replied for the visitors in the 26th minute with a penalty.
The in the second half Cohen showed tremendous pace and power to brush off the tackles of Sheldon Coulter and Bryn Cunningham on the narrow side to score in the 46th minute and Grayson added the conversion.
Ulster, to their credit, came storming back. Humphreys levelled the scores with a sweet drop-goal in the 51st minute and two minutes later the visitors were reduced to 14 men when Cohen was sent to the sin-bin for a professional foul. Then Grayson edged the visitors in front again with his second penalty in the 68th minute.
Ulster stormed back once again however and Neil Doak knocked over the penalty to level the scores before Humphreys sealed the win with his second drop-goal deep into injury time.
Filed by Johnny Proby
