Ulster's women marked their first appearance at Ravenhill by crushing Connacht with a superb exhibition of running rugby.

But Munster's victory over Connacht in Cork 24 hours later made it a bitter-sweet weekend for Rachel Reid's team.

Munster's 26-0 win means that Fiona Steed's side only need to beat minnows Connacht on October 13 to clinch the title for the first time in their history.

Ulster look likely to pay a heavy price for their opening day defeat by Leinster in August.

Playing at headquarters seemed to inspire the reigning champions, who ran riot against a visiting outfit which couldn't cope with Ulster's pace and invention.

Ulster scored seven tries for the home team's all-international backline, three in the first half as Ulster took a 15-3 lead and four more in the second period.

Centre Laura Nicholl grabbed a hat-trick of tries while winger Rachel Boyd scored twice with full-back Joy Sparkes and Suzanne Fleming also getting in on the act.

Skipper Reid converted all four second half tries, but the result from Highfield will have taken a little of the gloss off Ulster's great performance.

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