Neil Best goes on the offensive against Harlequins

The Irish province, under new coach Mark McCall, had led 14-0 with tries from Neil Best and Andrew Maxwell.

But the Zurich Premiership outfit hit back with touchdowns from Ceri Jones, Steve So'oialo and Andy Reay.

Andy Ward scored Ulster's third try to level the game at 19-19 before Sherriff's try secured a Quins victory.

Ulster started off strongly and were 14 points up in as many minutes thanks to two well-executed tries.

There were only two minutes on the clock when new boy Campbell Feather broke clear and ran 50 metres before the ball was recycled and Best scampered over midway out.

Ulster extended their early advantage when fly-half Paddy Wallace put a beautiful grubber kick through a tight Quins defence for winger Maxwell to touchdown.

Both tries were converted by Wallace.

Second try

Quins, however, came back in the 15th minute with a rolling maul which ended with Welsh prop Ceri Jones rumbling over after the visitors' pack began to out-muscle their Ulster opponents.

The Quins pack were giving Ulster a tough time up front and it was not surprising that they set up the second try for scrum-half So'oialo to dance over in the 34th minute and Andy Dunne converted.

Harlequins took the lead on the hour after an Ulster turnover when the ball was moved quickly to Reay who sped over in the corner for Jeremy Staunton to convert and put Harlequins 19-14 ahead.

Ulster were back level six minutes later when replacement Andy Ward barged his way over for an unconverted try and a bull-like run along the right-hand touchline.

However, Quins broke downfield for a winning score in injury-time.

Sherriff did a neat kick and collect on the hoof to score close to the posts with Staunton adding the extra points.

Ulster: B Cunningham; J Topping, S Stewart, A Larkin, A Maxwell; P Wallace, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore, M Mustchin, R Frost, N Best, N McMillan, Capt, C Feather.
Replacements: (all used) J Bell, S Mallon, T Bowe, N Doak, A Ward, M McComish, M McCullough, T Barker, S Shawe, N Brady, B Young.

NEC Harlequins: G Duffy; H Barrett. J Staunton, A Reay, S Keogh; A Dunne, S So�oialo; C Jones, T Fuga, J Dawson, K Rudzki, R Winters, M Molitika, L Sherriff, capt, k Hortsmann.
Replacements: (all used) J Hayter, M Worsley, M Lambert, S Miall, A Tiatia, T Diprose, A Vos, A Jarvis, M Deane, M Brown.