Ulster remained unbeaten following a comprehensive 28-07 bonus-point win over the Vodacom Bulls in Belfast on Saturday evening. Ulster scored three tries in seven minutes early in the second half to secure the win.
The opening minutes were scrappy as both sides were trying to establish dominance; however, despite the Bulls' “dominating” Ulster’s pressure on the Bulls' backline led to a knock on by the Bulls. Ulster immediately got a foot on the ball, and Stuart McCloskey won the foot race to score the first points of the match. Nathan Doak added the extra two points to lead 07-00 after twenty minutes of play in the first half.
Not to be outdone, the Bulls used their big forwards to launch wave after wave of attacks, and eventually Wilco Louw crashed over to level the score at 07-07 following Pollard’s conversion.
The final twelve minutes of the first half were again scrappy, with not many scoring opportunities.
Ulster upped the pace of their attack, and the pressure led to a yellow card to Jeandre Rudolph after six minutes of play in the second half. Ulster continued to apply pressure, and eventually Juarno Augustus bulldozed his way over for Ulster’s second try. Doak converted to extend their lead to 14-07 after ten minutes of play in the second half.
Four minutes later, Rob Herring scored off the back of a lineout-maul. Nathan Doak converted to extend Ulster’s lead to 21-07.
Two minutes later, Pollard’s loose kick was used by Ulster to attack, and eventually Cormac Izuchukwu cruised over the Bulls' tryline to score Ulster’s bonus point try. Doak added the extra two points to extend Ulster’s lead to 28-07.
Teams:
Ulster RFC: 15 Jacob Stockdale,14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 David McCann, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Sam Crean. Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Sean Reffell, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Jude Postlethwaite
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Mpilo Gumede, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Nicolaas Janse v Rensburg, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johann Grobbelaar (c), 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Reinhardt Ludwig, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 David Kriel, 23 Willie le Roux.