GUINNESS PRO12: Ulster conclude Italian trilogy with 10-try blitz

ULSTER 68 ZEBRE 21
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Mar 2017, 20:48 BST
Updated 24th Mar 2017, 11:01 BST
Ulster's Luke Marshall scores his second try of the gameUlster's Luke Marshall scores his second try of the game
Ulster's Luke Marshall scores his second try of the game

Ulster moved fourth in the Guinness PRO12 table after a comprehensive win over Zebre in Belfast last night.

The Irish Province scored 10 tries - and had two disallowed - as they put the Italian side to the sword.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It was a record points score by Ulster in the Guinness PRO12 and the most tries they have scored in a league game.

Ulster's Jacob Stockdale scores a try against ZebreUlster's Jacob Stockdale scores a try against Zebre
Ulster's Jacob Stockdale scores a try against Zebre

The rearranged game, postponed last November due to a frozen Kingspan Stadium pitch, saw Ulster finish their Six Nations programme with five wins from five and collecting 24 points from a maximum of 25.

Les Kiss’s side moved above Scarlets into fourth place, four points ahead of the Welsh side and six behind third placed Munster.

Three minutes into the game a high tackle by Gideon Koegelenberg on Stuart Olding saw the Zebre flanker sent to the sin-bin following a TMO review of the incident and three minutes later centre Luke Marshall crossed for a try, converted by scrumhalf Ruan Piennar.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The Italians missed a penatly opportunity after 10 minutes, but two minutes later they rocked Ulster with a try when lock and captain Quintin Geldenhuys broke and put prop Andrea De Marchi in for a try which was converted by outhalf Serafin Bordoli.

Ulster's Stuart Olding is tackled by Gideon Koegelenberg of ZebraUlster's Stuart Olding is tackled by Gideon Koegelenberg of Zebra
Ulster's Stuart Olding is tackled by Gideon Koegelenberg of Zebra

That levelled the scores, but Ulster were dominated the remainder of the half and tries from Marshall, Charles Piutau, Ruan Pienaar and Jacob Stockdale - with each converted by Piutau sent the home side in at the break 35-7 ahead and the job done.

The rout continued in the second half with tries from Craig Gilroy, Piutau, replacements John Andrew and Paul Marshall, plus one from man of the match Olding, who kicked three from four conversion attempts to bring them to 68 points - one more than they scored in the win over Caerphilly in 2002.

Zebre contributed with two tries and conversions in the second half.

Related topics:ProvinceUlsterBelfastSix Nations