Ulster went top of their Heineken Cup pool with a victory over French powerhouse Stade Francais Paris at Ravenhill that combined ambition, skill and commitment.
Inspired by the brilliant Ian Humphreys - deservedly named Man of the Match - Ulster attacked Stade from the off, and were more willing to run from deep when the situation called for it.
They went in front through a Nigel Brady try created by Humphreys when he carved open the Stade defence with a superb pair of passes.
Two penalties from each side meant Ulster went in 13-6 up at the break and the second half promised to be a corker with the sides clashing as they headed for the dressing rooms after the half-time whistle.
It didn't disappoint as Ulster continuing to get among their French opponents, with Ferris and captain Chris Henry leading the way.
Ulster had class to back the commitment, and their willingness to have a go yielded a try of the season contender after just three minutes of the second half. A length of the field attack started by Humphreys after he field a kick and spotted space and featuring an exquisite dummy and hand-off from Stephen Ferris, it yielded an an easy finish for the classy Simon Danielli. Danielli had earlier been involved in initiating the move with Humphreys inside Ulster's 22.
The excellent rugby was occasionally interupted by fractiousness with scuffles breaking out from time to time and there will be plenty for ERC officials to mull over on the video. Stade in particular may find themselves short of personnel next week after Ferris was on the receiving end of a nasty piece of play from Stade scrum-half Julien Dupuy, who twice ripped his hand across the Ulster blindside's face at a ruck. Danielli also incurred an ugly facial wound.
But Ulster didn't get unduly upset, even when Stade closed the margin to 10 points through a Julien Arias try, converted by Noel Oelschig.
Oelschig missed with a late penalty from half-way that would have given Stade a bonus point but instead they left with nothing - bar a potential lengthy ban for at least one player - and are under pressure to beat Ulster at home next week and re-take the lead in Pool 4.
