A try apiece from man-of-the-match Isaac Boss and Darren Cave did the damage but it was Ulster’s first-half display that set up the victory.

In terrible conditions the home side elected to play against the gale-force wind in the first half and did well to be trailing 6-5 at the break.

And Moffat conceded the Gunners’ inability to build a bigger lead at halftime meant they were always going to face an uphill struggle to come away with a win.

"We're very disappointed to lose the game,” said Moffat. “The conditions weren't great but Ulster played them better than us.

"I thought both teams made an effort to play rugby in the poor conditions, I think the game for us was maybe lost in the first 15 to 20 minutes.

"Ulster started the game well, they controlled it and kept the ball of us and played well into the wind and we didn't get any momentum.

“We gave away a fair number of penalties and free kicks in the first half and that is not the way you want to play with the wind and we had a yellow card in the first six minutes which is the last thing you want.”