Ulster kicked off their Heineken Cup campaign with a convincing bonus point victory over Castres Olympique at Ravenhill Stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Scrum-half Paul Marshall scored two tries for last season's runners up Ulster got off to a winning start.

Winger Andrew Trimble also scored for Ulster but South African replacement fly-half Ruan Pienaar's last minute try earned a bonus point after a punishing 17 phases following a loss of possession by Castres.

Paddy Jackson converted three of the tries and added five penalties for Ulster, who were soundly beaten 42-14 by fellow Irish side Leinster in last season's final.

Ulster, the 1999 European champions, are now unbeaten in six matches this season. 

Final Score Ulster (23) 41 Castres (10) 17

Scorers

Ulster
Tries: Trimble, P Marshall 2, Pienaar
Cons: Jackson 2, Pienaar
Pens: Jackson 5

Castres
Tries: Andreu, Garvey
Cons: Teulet 2
Pens: Teulet

Teams

Ulster

15. Jared Payne . 14. Tommy Bowe . 13. Darren Cave . 12. Paddy Wallace . 11. Andrew Trimble . 10. Paddy Jackson . 9. Paul Marshall . 1. Tom Court . 2. Rory Best . 3. John Afoa . 4. Johann Muller (capt) . 5. Dan Tuohy . 6. Iain Henderson . 7. Chris Henry . 8. Mike McComish

Replacements :16. Rob Herring . 17. Callum Black . 18. Adam Macklin . 19. Lewis Stevenson . 20. Neil McComb . 21. Ruan Pienaar . 22. Luke Marshall . 23. Craig Gilroy .

Castres

15. Romain Teulet. 14. Marcel Garvey. 13. Daniel Kirkpatrick. 12. Seremaia Bai. 11. Marc Andreu. 10. Pierre Bernard. 9. Thierry Lacrampe. 1. Yannick Forestier. 2. Mathieu Bonello. 3. Michaël Coetzee. 4. Matthias Rolland (capt). 5. Rodrigo Capo Ortega. 6. Piula Faasalele. 7. Yannick Caballero. 8. Pedrie Wannenburg.

Replacements : 16. Marc-Antoine Rallier. 17. Grégory Marmoiton. 18. Mihaïta Lazar. 19. Iosefa Tekori. 20. Rory Kockott. 21. Antonie Claassen. 22. Paul Bonnefond. 23. Thomas Sanchou