Ulster opened their home campaign in the GUINNESS PRO12 with a blistering attacking display at Kingspan Stadium, running in five tries during a 33-13 win over Italian visitors Zebre.
Man-of-the-match Andrew Trimble and Dan Tuohy made it two tries apiece in as many games with a score each, topped up by efforts from Nick Williams, Craig Gilroy and Robbie Diack.
The Ulstermen now sit on eight points from their opening two league outings, with two try-scoring bonus points already in the bag.
A storming break and hand-off from Darren Cave in the second minute should have reaped an early reward for Ulster, but the unfortunate Rory Best somehow knocked the ball forward as he received the Holywood man’s pass on the try-line.
Superior Ulster power at the Zebre scrum, however, allowed big number 8 Williams (pictured below) to pick up as his pack colleagues drove forward, and he swept through several tackles for the opening try.
Although Ian Humphreys converted, Zebre were back on terms within five minutes as early replacement Samuela Vunisa, on for the injured Andres van Schalkwyk, capitalised on some slack defending to pick up from a maul and sneak over the line unchallenged.
A conversion and penalty from out-half Kelly Haimona followed in quick succession to nudge the visitors into the lead, and an errant Humphreys penalty did little to lift the mood within Kingspan Stadium on 14 minutes.
However, with Louis Ludik replacing the injured Cave at this stage, the next Ulster move, instigated by a sublime kick and chase from Trimble and some strong carrying from full-back Ricky Andrew, ended with winger Gilroy touching down from Diack’s pass after a neat sidestep.
Humphreys’ extras put Ulster four ahead on the cusp of the second quarter, and the Ulster prolificacy continued seven minutes later when Diack (pictured below) ran over try number three after a searching cross-field pass from Paul Marshall and a neat feint from the influential Andrew.
The game maintained its hectic pace as a disallowed Ludik try – ruled out as Gilroy’s pass was ruled forward – and another dropped ball on the try-line ensued in a matter of minutes, before Ulster – now 19-10 ahead – closed out the half probing time and again from a five-metre scrum, but to no avail.
Ulster opened the second period intent on securing the bonus point early on, only to be frustrated by diligent defending from the Italians – and some poor organisation at their own lineout.
Although weakened by Andrew’s 54th-minute sin-binning for an aerial challenge on Brendon Leonard as he chased his own clearance kick, Ulster pressed on and made the breakthrough just before the hour.
Trimble touched down courtesy of a sprightly dash from Paul Marshall straight from a scrum, the Italians paying the price for failing to put any pressure at all on the scrum half as he plucked the ball from between Williams’ feet.
Humphreys converted and was on hand moments later to craft a delightful kick into Tuohy’s path five metres from home for the fifth try, with credit also going to Trimble for the initial break through the axis of the Zebre defence, and captain Best for some stubborn resistance as he shrugged off several Italian tackles to recycle.
After another Humphreys conversion and a Haimona penalty, a series of knock-ons from both sides stymied any scoring opportunities until as late as the 77th minute when Ulster only just missed out on a try with their final attack.
Zebre winger Giulio Toniolatti did well to nudge replacement Stuart Olding just out of reach of the ball with a fair shoulder charge as the pair chased the Ulsterman’s kick towards the right corner flag, ensuring that the winning margin did not surpass 20 points.
This website uses cookies.
Read More