Zebre 3 Ulster 36
Ulster got the job done in Parma and though it was no vintage effort by Dan McFarland’s side, they took their five points and now move on.
They scored six tries in all with two first half scores from Ethan McIlroy helping settle Ulster in what was a generally disjointed effort against a Zebre side unable to take any advantage from the Irish province’s struggles with ball in hand.
Ulster only led 10-3 at the break and then, with Michael Bradley’s side rapidly running out of energy and belief - they shipped two second half yellow cards - the visitors scored four more times.
Nick Timoney also earned himself a brace with James Hume and Will Addison claiming tries as well.
After a noticeably scrappy opening 20 minutes, during which Nathan Doak and Tom O’Toole had both come close to dotting down, Ulster managed to inch the scoreboard forwards.
It came off a scrum when Doak’s pass to Billy Burns gave the outhalf the opportunity to release McIlroy who crossed in the corner and was given the try after lengthy consultation between Sam Grove-White and the TMO.
Burns missed the difficult conversion and Ulster’s troubles at putting any consistent play together then persisted with Antonio Rizzi kicking a 33rd minute penalty.
Ulster badly needed a spark and got it in the final moment of the half when they finally did produce some coherent phases, allowing James Hume supply McIlroy for his more straightforward second.
Burns was again wide with the extra points and Ulster trooped off leading 10-3 and feeling that bit better about themselves after an indifferent opening half in Parma.
It took six minutes before Ulster scored again when a long pass from Hume went to ground but still made it to Craig Gilroy who threw a no-look pass over his right shoulder to Addison who dashed over.
Burns converted and the northern province now led 17-3.
Ulster then began to up the ante with a series of scrums and penalties which led to Ion Neculai’s yellow card on 52 minutes.
With the visitors encamped in Zebre’s 22, their bonus point was secured in a fairly scruffy way after the ball was finally moved wide.
Addison’s long pass to Gilroy forced the winger to check but he was able to throw another flick pass inside to the supporting Hume who surged through to make the corner. Again Burns missed the extras.
Zebre’s resistance now crumbled and after Maxime Mbanda’ was binned - briefly reducing Zebre to 13 - Ulster scrambled over for try number five from Timoney with Doak converting.
Timoney then got a second after Sean Reidy’s pass with Michael Lowry adding two points.
Zebre: J Laloifi; G Di Giulio, G Bisegni (Capt), T Boni, A Tuivuaka; C Canna, A Fusco; D Fischetti, L Bigi, M Nocera; D Sisi, L Krumov; M Mbanda', P Junior Leavasa, G Licata.
Replacements: O Fabiani for Bigi 51mins, A Lovotti for Fischetti 55mins, I Neculai for Nocera 48mins, A Zambonin for Krumov 49mins, R Giammarioli for Sisi 58mins, G Palazzani for Fusco 64mins, A Rizzi for Bisgeni 12mins, J Trulla for Canna 32-41mins and for Boni 63mins.
Ulster: W Addison; C Gilroy, J Hume, S Moore, E McIlroy; B Burns, N Doak; E O'Sullivan, R Herring, T O'Toole; A O'Connor (Capt), M Kearney; Matty Rea, N Timoney, D McCann.
Replacements: B Roberts for Herring 60mins, C Reid for O'Sullivan 60mins, M Moore for O'Toole h-t, S Carter for Kearney 48mins, S Reidy for McCann 59mins, D Shanahan for Doak 65mins, M Lowry for Burns 57mins, B Moxham for Addison 66mins.
Referee: S Grove-White (SRU).
