Heineken Cup quarter-finalists Ulster had Springbok star Ruan Pienaar to thank for a fourth successive win in the Magners League as he secured a last gasp victory over Newport Gwent Dragons with an 80th minute drop goal.
It was the second time this season that Pienaar had hauled his side to victory over Welsh opposition with a winning kick in the dying seconds. The 18-16 triumph over the Scarlets in Llanelli came with a 50 metre penalty, while the latest rescue mission came with a drop goal from 30 metres.
"I just looked up and thankfully it went through the posts - it's a great result for us. The lads showed a lot of character to win the ball back at the end," said Pienaar.
"We will celebrate this win but it was not a good performance from us and we know there are a lot of tough matches ahead of us."
The win moved Ulster up into the Play-Off positions in the Magners League and keeps them firmly in the hunt for another major title. They travel to Milton Keynes next month to face Northampton Saints in their first Heineken Cup quarter-final since they won the tournament back in 1999.
Their 25-23 win over the Dragons, who had taken the lead with a 79th minute Jason Tovey penalty and looked odds on to hold out for an away win, made it four in a row in the Magners League and moved them into fourth place. There are five rounds of regular league games to play and their biggest remaining game will be against another Heineken Cup quarter-finalist, Leinster.
The Dubliners have the same number of points as their Irish rivals, 51, and will have home advantage when they two teams meet on 16 April - the weekend after the quarter-finals.
Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finalists Munster currently lead the Magners League by nine points.
