Olding Makes Try-Scoring Return As Ulster Bag Bonus Point

Ulster put a lacklustre opening 40 minutes behind them at Stadio di Monigo to run four second half tries past Benetton Treviso and force their way back towards the GUINNESS PRO12’s top four.

Benetton Treviso, winless in 25 matches, did well to contain Ulster and marginally edge the first period, but were overwhelmed by scores from Sean Reidy, Darren Cave, Rory Scholes and Stuart Olding after the break as Ulster plucked a bonus point from thin air to move up to fifth in the standings – level with Edinburgh on 37 points.

Deprived of six first choice players away with the Ireland RBS 6 Nations squad, Les Kiss’ charges were buoyed by the return of Olding after an absence of 10 months, the 22-year-old slotting in at centre alongside Cave.
Louis Ludik started at full-back, with Scholes and Craig Gilroy on the wings, and Ian Humphreys teaming up with Paul Marshall at half-back.

Rob Herring captained the province from hooker, with Callum Black and Ricky Lutton on either side, and the tandem of Alan O’Connor and Franco van der Merwe behind in the second row. The back row of Clive Ross, Reidy and Roger Wilson completed the lineup.

Ulster kept play in Treviso territory for the first 10 minutes in wet and dismal conditions, Humphreys kicking over the first points from a central penalty after the Italians had strayed offside. Treviso opted to play their first penalty moments later, enjoying five minutes’ possession but crucially not breaking through a strong Ulster line.

A similar tactic just on the half hour mark did, however, pay dividends, as the Italians built well from their lineout and eventually forced the infringement from Black right in front of the posts, allowing Jayden Hayward to slot home.

Poor concentration from Ulster at a successive scrum and lineout did little to improve the match as a spectacle as half-time approached, but another offside as Treviso defended gave Humphreys a simple kick to send his side in ahead (6-3) at the break.

Treviso made the brighter start to the second 40 minutes, forcing an early penalty at scrum time and probing well from the subsequent lineout until van der Merwe got himself offside in the 22 to gift Hayward the penalty which restored parity.

That concession seemed to spark Ulster into life, as two successive lineouts culminated in a 53rd minute try off the driving maul for Reidy – his second score in as many matches.

Humphreys added the conversion, and as the visitors began to seize control, a fantastic diagonal run from Cave got the centre over from Marshall’s short pass on 56 minutes after more good work from Reidy.

The third try, just after the hour, was gift-wrapped with a loose pass from Sam Christie on the halfway line falling right into Scholes’ hands, with the winger outstripping the Treviso out-half in his otherwise unopposed race for the line.

Olding, taking over kicking duties in the final quarter after Luke Marshall replaced Humphreys, dispatched the conversion and with the prospect of a bonus point suddenly a distinct possibility, a 70th minute drive from the Ulster forwards created the space for the youngster to slide over the whitewash despite the attentions of Simone Ragusi.

A late consolation try from replacement flanker Braam Steyn, converted by Hayward, did little to take the sheen off the four-try victory, and indeed Ulster, with new faces Lorcan Dow and Jacob Stockdale impressing in the final minutes, closed out the game in search of a fifth touchdown.

Next up for Ulster are three consecutive home clashes with the Newport Gwent Dragons, Glasgow Warriors and the Scarlets, where victories would see the province stake a serious claim for a top four finish.