[tag=image]data:image/jpeg;base64,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[/tag][tag=content]Ulster opened their 2014-15 home campaign with a dominant five-try bonus point win over Italian side Zebre at the Kingspan Stadium on Friday night.
The 33-13 scoreline reflected the home team’s dominance on the game with tries from Nick Williams, Craig Gilroy, Robbie Diack, Andrew Trimble and Dan Tuohy giving them their second bonus point in as many weeks.
In fairness to the visitors, although they leave Belfast with no points to their name, they put up a good fight with a try from back row Samuela Vunisa and two Kelly Haimona penalties, although the superior fitness of the Irish province shone through in the end.
Rory Best was brought straight back into the Ulster starting line-up for the game and he nearly capped his return to the Kingspan Stadium with a try in the third minute as Darren Cave scythed his way through the hapless Zebre tackling, only for the British & Irish Lions hooker to drop the outside centre’s pass with the try line gaping.
Not that it mattered in the end as from the resulting scrum the Ulster front five produced a monumental drive to win the ball against the head, and from there it was no more than a few strides for Nick Williams to barrel his way over and open the scoring.
What came next was a total shock as Zebre, playing in blue rather than their traditional black and white, levelled the scores in the eighth minute through substitute Samuela Vunisa who caught the Ulster defence napping to cross for the visitors.
Fly-half Kelly Haimona then stunned the Kingspan crowd by giving the Italians a shock 10-7 lead in the eleventh minute with a penalty before Ulster turned on the style.
First was Craig Gilroy who crossed in the corner following a clever chip kick and burst through by Andrew Trimble to restore the Ulstermen’s lead in the seventeenth minute, no more than the hosts deserved.
Then it was the turn of Robbie Diack who crossed in the exactly the same place nine minutes later after Ulster worked their way back into Zebre territory, increasing Ulster’s advantage to 19-10.
By now you could sense all the momentum was swinging in the way of the home side and whenever Kelly Haimona missed a simple kick to reduce the gap back to six, the Ulstermen began to assault the try line.
They thought they had the fourth try before half time too, only for referee Leighton Hodges to rule that the final pass that sent Louis Ludik over just before the break was forward, a decision that was met by disapproval from the crowd.
If Ulster thought they were home and dry, Zebre’s start to the second half made them think otherwise as the Italians launched themselves at their hosts, and it took a strong last ditch tackle from Louis Ludik to prevent Samuela Vunisa getting his second try of the evening.
Then came a massive talking point in the game as Ricky Andrew took Brendon Leonard out in the air leaving the Kiwi scrum-half winded on the floor. Although it bore striking similarities to the Jared Payne incident back in April, the TMO adjudged that only a yellow card was warranted for the challenge.
If anything, the sin bin appeared to galvanise Ulster and it was during that period that they got their fourth and bonus point try as Paul Marshall fed Andrew Trimble, who secured the extra point for his side for the second week running.
And the home side continued to exert their dominance with a fifth try through Dan Tuohy who collected Ian Humphreys’ clever kick behind the Zebre defence.
Rather ironically it was once Andrew had returned to the field that Zebre got their first points of the second half – a penalty with ten minutes to go from Haimona, however it was not enough to rescue the losing bonus point for the visitors.
Instead it was the home side who finished the game the brighter and nearly had a late try through Stuart Olding, but the centre couldn’t gather his stabbed kick through and the Ulstermen had to settle for the scoreline they had.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Williams, Gilroy, Diack, Trimble, Tuohy
Cons: Humphreys (4)
For Zebre
Try: Vunisa
Con: Haimona
Pens: Haimona (2)
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Ricky Andrew, Andrew Trimble, Darren Cave (Louis Ludik 10), Luke Marshall (Stuart Olding 66), Craig Gilroy, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall (Michael Heaney 68); (1-8) Andrew Warwick (Ruaidhri Murphy 60), Rory Best (Rob Herring 66), Wiehahn Herbst (Bronson Ross 68), Lewis Stevenson (Franco van der Merwe 53), Dan Tuohy, Robbie Diack, Chris Henry (Roger Wilson 57), Nick Williams.
Yellow card: Ricky Andrew (54)
ZEBRE
(15-9) Hendrik Daniller, David Odiete, Giulio Bisegni, Gonzalo Garcia (Edoardo Padovani 51), Giulio Toniolatti, Kelly Haimona, Brendon Leonard (Guglielmo Palazzani 57); (1-8) Andrea de Marchi (Andrea Lovotti 53), Oliviero Fabiani (Andrea Manici 45), Dario Chistolini (Luciano Leibson 63), Andries Ferreira (Quintin Geldenhuys 45), George Biagi (Valerio Bernabo 58), Mauro Bergamasco, Filippo Cristiano, Dries van Schalkwyk (Samuela Vunisa 3).
Man of the Match: Louis Ludik (Ulster)
Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU)[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 33-13 Zebre
Moderator: Moderators