Luke Marshall continued his impressive early-season form by scoring two tries as Ulster dominated an understrength Ospreys in Belfast.
Marshall has hit the ground running since his return from injury and he crossed at either end of the first half to help Ulster climb to second in the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Sam Carter also helped himself to a brace with John Andrew, Stuart McCloskey and replacement Marcus Rea also crossing in the seven-try rout.
Marshall and McCloskey's midfield partnership continues to bear fruit, with the former’s running lines and breakdown work to the latter’s strong carrying and offloading ability proving a formidable combination. The fleet-footed Michael Lowry was a constant threat while Springbok Duane Vermeulen got through plenty of work on his return to Ulster colours.
The Ospreys arrived without seven Wales internationals, who are having their minutes managed ahead of next month’s autumn Tests, and they were forced into two late changes after captain Dan Lydiate and out-half Stephen Myler were both ruled out an hour before kick-off.
Things got even worse inside two minutes of the kick-off when prop Gareth Thomas, making his 100th appearance for the club, also departed injured.
Ulster have not lost successive league matches at Kingspan Stadium since December 2010 and a strong start ensured that run would continue.
The patched-up Ospreys began nervously, with out-half Jack Walsh skewing a kick into touch following a misplaced pass in their own 22, and those errors were pounced upon by Ulster.
With centurion Thomas down injured, Ian Madigan put Marshall charging through a hole in the Ospreys defence to touch down inside two minutes, with John Cooney converting.
They doubled their advantage on eight minutes when a superb kick chase and tackle by Marty Moore, and jackal by Marshall, put Ulster back in scoring range. Andrew was at the back of a driving maul to bag his second try in as many games.
Moore departed soon afterwards for a HIA and did not return. The Ospreys hit back through openside Jac Morgan, who was aided by three team-mates as he barged over from close range.
Nick Timoney had a try chalked off by the TMO, who ruled he had failed to ground the ball after charging over the line with three defenders for company, but Ulster did not have to wait long for a third try.
Andrew, McCloskey and Timoney combined off a lineout and following a series of pick and drives, Carter forced his way over between the posts.
Walsh replied with a penalty for the Ospreys after Eric O'Sullivan lost his bind at a scrum but they leaked a fourth try on 34 minutes when a trademark McCloskey carry sucked in defenders and Marshall ran a great line to take Cooney’s pass and score his third of the season.
Ulster were forced into a change at half-time after Ian Madigan departed with a suspected knee injury following some friendly fire with Carter, but they extended their lead within two minutes of the restart.
Madigan’s replacement Billy Burns found the electric Michael Lowry down the left, who committed Luke Morgan before offloading to the unmarked McCloskey.
A raft of changes disrupted the game’s flow, with Burns also forced off on the hour mark, but Ulster did cross twice more in the final quarter, Carter and replacement Marcus Rea both crossing from close range, while Morgan Morris scored a late consolation for the visitors.
Dan McFarland’s side head to South Africa next week for back-to-back games against the in-form Emirates Lions and Cell C Sharks.
Ulster: Michael Lowry; Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Stuart McCloskey, Rob Lyttle; Ian Madigan, John Cooney; Eric O'Sullivan, John Andrew, Marty Moore; Alan O'Connor (capt), Sam Carter; Nick Timoney, Jordi Murphy, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Tom O'Toole for Moore (12), Billy Burns for Madigan (ht), Aaron Sexton for McCloskey (44), Frank Bradshaw-Ryan for O’Connor (53), Andrew Warick for O’Sullivan (53), Marcus Rea for Vermeulen (62), Dave Shanahan for Burns (62), Declan Moore for Andrew (79).
Ospreys: Max Nagy; Luke Morgan, Owen Watkin, Michael Collins, Keelan Giles; Jack Walsh, Reuben Morgan Williams; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Tom Botha; Rhys Davies, Huw Sutton; Will Griffiths (capt), Jac Morgan, Morgan Morris.
Replacements: Nicky Smith for Thomas (3), Jack Regan for Griffiths (53), Scott Baldwin for Lake (62), Rhys Henry for Botha (62), Joe Hawkins for Collins (62), Cai Evans for Nagy (62), Harris Deaves for Morgan (66), Rhys Webb for Giles (71).
Referee: Ben Blain (SRU).
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