Ulster start with a win

Ulster started their Pro14 campaign with a bonus point win over Benetton at Kingspan Stadium although they were pushed all the way by the Italians.
Marcell Coetzee scores Ulster’s bonus point fourth try during the PRO14 Round 1 clash between Ulster Rugby and Benetton Rugby at Kingspan Stadium. Photo by John Dickson / DicksondigitalMarcell Coetzee scores Ulster’s bonus point fourth try during the PRO14 Round 1 clash between Ulster Rugby and Benetton Rugby at Kingspan Stadium. Photo by John Dickson / Dicksondigital
Marcell Coetzee scores Ulster’s bonus point fourth try during the PRO14 Round 1 clash between Ulster Rugby and Benetton Rugby at Kingspan Stadium. Photo by John Dickson / Dicksondigital

The 600 fans that were allowed into the stadium witnessed a great game of open rugby which yielded eight tries with five by the home side.

Both sides had early chances, Ulster from a rolling maul rumbled close to the line but the Italians forced a turnover and counter attacked down the left wing, with a try for the taking prop Marcco Riccioni dropped the ball in the 22.

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Ulster took the lead on eight minutes, they went to the corner with a penalty, Benetton sacked the maul illegally and with a penalty advantage John Cooney put a perfectly weighted grubber kick behind the defence for centre James Hume to race onto and touchdown with the scrum half converting.

Stewart Moore marked his first Ulster start with a try on 12 minutes.

Craig Gilroy won a ball in the air and Ulster moved it from east to west quickly, Michael Lowry put Jacob Stockdale into space, the full back hit the line at pace he popped the ball inside to Cooney and he fed Moore to dart over, the Irish international pivot converted.

Benetton’s enterprising rugby was rewarded on 25 minutes, their fast offloading phase play game too them close to the Ulster line before lock Federico Ruzza smashed over from close range with Italian U20 out half Paollo Garbisi converting.

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Ulster restored their 14 point lead on 28 minutes with a third try. Matty Rea and Stockdale had probing runs which got the home side deep into the 22, a few phases drew the defence in before Cooney put Lowry over with the scrum half converting.

Stockdale was sin binned on 31 minutes for a high tackle on scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage and Benetton immediately profited.

They kicked the penalty to the corner, from the maul Ratuva Tavuyara punched a hole in the defence before Garbisi burst over for a try which he converted.

The sides went into the break level at 21-21 as Benetton got a third try two minutes before the interval.

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Tavuyara and Jason Hayward cut through the Ulster defence, some last-ditch tackling held the Italians up but quick recycling allowed flanker Abraham Steyn to stretch out and touch down with Garbisi converting.

Benetton took the lead four minutes after the restart with a Garbisi penalty.

Ulster regained their lead and secured the bonus point on 46 minutes, they kicked a penalty to the corner from the maul Springbok No8 Marcell Coetzee was propelled over with Cooney converting.

Benetton’s inaccuracy in Ulster’s 22 cost them a few chances to go back in front.

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Ulster wasted a chance when they kicked a penalty to the corner but the Italians pinched the lineout.

Ulster finally wrapped the game up in the 74th minute with a fifth try.

Again the home side kicked a penalty to the corner, they secured the lineout and the forwards set up the driving maul and replacement hooker Adam McBurney barged over with Bill Johnston converting.

Teams

Ulster:J Stockdale, C Gilroy, J Hume, S Moore, R Lyttle, M Lowry, J Cooney, J McGrath, R Herring, M Moore, S Carter, I Henderson, M Rea, S Reidy, M Coetzee.

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Replacements: A McBurney for Herring 64 mins, E O’Sullivan for McGrath 41 mins, G Milasinovich for Moore 69 mins, D O’Connor for Carter 51 mins, D McCann for Reidy 56 mins, A Mathewson for Cooney 59 mins, B Johnston for Lowry 60 mins, L Ludik for Coetzee 75 mins

Benetton Rugby:J Hayward, R Tavuyara, I Brex, M Zanon, M Ioane, P Garbisi, D Duvenage, C Traore, H Faiva, M Riccioni, M Lazzaroni, F Ruzza, S Negri, A Steyn, T Halafihi

Replacements: G Lucchesi for Favia 50 mins, N Quaglio for Traore 56 mins, S Ferrari for Riccioni 42 mins, N Cannone for Negri 51 mins, E Snyman for Halafihi 51 mins, G Pettinelli for Ruzza 64mins, C Braley for Duvenage 58 mins, E Padovani for Tavuyara 64 mins

Ref: A Jones (WRU)

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