The 1999 Heineken Cup winners scored four tries to claim a bonus point against the Italians for the second week running following the 48-0 thrashing in Belfast seven days ago.

A hat-trick of second-half scores from Craig Gilroy, Robbie Diack and Jared Payne accompanied a late first-half effort from Luke Marshall as Ulster made it four wins from four games following earlier successes against Leicester Tigers and Montpellier.

Ulster never looked like losing their unbeaten record once Marshall crossed two minutes before the break but they left it late to grab the bonus point when Payne dived over with not much more than a minute remaining.

Ulster started brightly as they looked to take the game to Treviso early on but they only had a 10th-minute penalty from Paddy Jackson to accompany their enthusiasm. Much of the rest of the half was played in midfield, with neither side creating any clear-cut try scoring opportunities.

Alberto Di Bernardo levelled the scores just before the half hour with a straightforward penalty but Ulster should have gone back in front through Jackson less than a minute later. Treviso infringed from the restart but Jackson got underneath his penalty attempt and pushed it well wide of the right-hand post.

The pivotal moment came just two minutes before the break when Marshall touched down out wide for the first try of the game. Payne’s beautifully weighted chip ahead bounced perfectly for the inside centre and he did enough to squeeze in at the right-hand corner.

Jackson was off target with the conversion attempt but he ensured Ulster were two scores clear at the break as he struck a second penalty with the final play of the half.

Leading 11-3 at the start of the second period, Ulster moved further ahead thanks to a third strike from Jackson just six minutes in.

Brilliant interplay from Ruan Pienaar and Darren Cave then created a chance for Ulster out wide but Treviso full back Brendan Williams got in the way when a second try looked likely. Williams was adjudged to have deliberately knocked the ball down and was subsequently sent to the sin bin by referee Greg Gardner.

Ulster pushed the resulting penalty scrum towards the Treviso try line but they lost their composure after the hosts conceded another penalty and came away with nothing as a result.

They were soon celebrating a second try, though, as the extra man told and Gilroy touched down out wide. Jackson sent over the impressive extras and Ulster were home and dry at 21-3 up with just over 16 minutes remaining.

Things got even better for Ulster almost immediately as Luke McLean saw yellow for offside after 67 minutes and Diack made him pay by burrowing through just 30 seconds later. Jackson again converted – this time from a far easier angle – and Ulster were 28-3 to the good, with 11 minutes left to find the bonus point score.

That came at the death when Andrew Trimble put Payne over out wide to ensure Ulster head to Rounds 5 and 6 in good shape to qualify for the knockout stages for the fourth year running.