[tag=image]data:image/jpeg;base64,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[/tag][tag=content]Declan Fitzpatrick’s 10th minute red card proved to be the decisive factor between Zebre and Ulster, with the home side taking advantage of their extra man to win their Guinness Pro12 clash 13-6.
The game at the Stadio XXV Aprille never really sparked into life, with Fitzpatrick’s dismissal for striking Andrea Manici early on the highlight of the game, and ultimately the difference between the two sides.
Dario Chistolini’s converted try was enough to hand the Italians their first victory of the season, and condemn Ulster to their first defeat of the season, with Kelly Haimona adding eight points for the hosts.
Ian Humphreys’ two penalties were scant consolation for the Irish province who return to Belfast with only a losing bonus point to show for their efforts.
Fitzpatrick’s early red card is probably one of the more bizarre that you will see this season, the 31-year old prop launching into Zebre hooker Andrea Manici at the base of a maul seemingly without provocation.
After discussing with first his assistant referees, and then his TMO, referee Peter Fitzgibbon elected to send off the Irish prop, much to the outrage of the Ulster players who seemed stunned at the decision.
It was the third red card for Ulster in their last ten games, and having lost the last two they were reduced to fourteen men in against Saracens and Leinster, this game was to prove no less difficult.
Although the Italians did not look any more threatening than they did when the two sides both had their full compliment, there was always the fear that the hosts would take advantage of their man extra in the scrum.
And that they did. The introduction of Wiehahn Herbst did nothing to prevent the Zebre front row from getting on top of their opposition, and forcing several penalties from Fitzgibbon.
Still, Ulster were looking threatening with several line breaks from their dangerous looking back line, with inside centre Stuart McCloskey proving a potent threat to the Zebre defence.
Paddy Jackson elected to try for a drop goal in the eighteenth minute however his effort dropped just short, then he watched as a penalty sailed just wide of the posts ten minutes later.
Not that his opposite number was having any better luck as Edoardo Padovani couldn’t find the gap between the posts with an effort of his own with five minutes to go in the first half.
Only two minutes into the second half and the home side thought they had broken the deadlock with 22-year old winger Leonardo Sarto breaking down the line and beating the last defender Craig Gilroy only for the play to called back with Sarto having put a foot in touch.
The Ulster defence wasn’t to improve and only a minute later it was Sarto again who scythed through the defence and barrelled his way over the line, only for the TMO to disallow him the try this time as the ball was not grounded.
Ulster perhaps thought their luck was holding out, but that belief was short lived. From the resulting scrum the ball was flung out wide and Dario Chistolini was on hand to give the Italians the opening points of the game.
If the hosts thought that they were now in control of the game, they were about to be proved wrong as Ian Humphreys landed two quick penalties to reduce the gap to 7-6 with twenty-five minutes still to go.
But Zebre had the patience to bide their time and whenever they won a scrum against the head ten minutes from the end, Kelly Haimona was able to extend their lead to four with his first penalty of the game.
If the Ulster players were unhappy with Carlo Damasco for his recommendation to send off Declan Fitzpatrick, they were livid with him after he ruled out a late try from Darren Cave for an obstruction by Tommy Bowe.
The Ireland winger did run into centre Gonzalo Garcia, and TMO Damasco ruled that it was sufficient enough to give Craig Gilroy the space to set Cave away.
Oliviero Fabiani’s late yellow card provided a nervy finish for Zebre, but Kelly Haimona hammered the final nail into Ulster’s coffin with a well struck drop kick six minutes from time to guarantee the hosts their first victory over Ulster in five attempts.
The scorers
For Zebre
Tries: Chistolini
Cons: Haimona
Pens: Haimona
DG: Haimona
For Ulster
Pens: Humphreys (2)
ZEBRE
(15-9) Hendrik Daniller, Giulio Toniolatti (Luciano Orquera 79), Giulio Bisegni, Kelly Haimona, Leonardo Sarto (Andrea Manici 80sb), Edoardo Padovani (Gonzalo Garcia 42), Guglielmo Palazzani; (1-8) Matias Aguero (Andrea Lovotti 53), Andrea Manici (Oliviero Fabiani 50), Dario Chistolini (Luciano Leibson 57), Quintin Geldenhuys, George Biagi (Andries Ferreira 65), Mauro Bergamasco, Filippo Cristiano (Valerio Bernabo 19b, 56), Samuela Vunisa.
Sub not used: Alberto Chillon.
Yellow card: Fabiani (77)
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Craig Gilroy, Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Stuart McCloskey (Andrew Trimble 68), Michael Allen, Paddy Jackson (Ian Humphreys 44), Michael Heaney (Paul Marshall 62); (1-8) Callum Black (Ruaidhri Murphy 68), Rob Herring (Rory Best 50), Declan Fitzpatrick, Neil McComb (Lewis Stevenson 53), Franco van der Merwe, Roger Wilson, Clive Ross (Wiehahn Herbst 14), Nick Williams (Mike McComish 59).
Red card: Declan Fitzpatrick (10)
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)[/tag]
Match Report: Zebre 13-6 Ulster Rugby
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