URC: Ulster 14 Zebre Parma 15
The Kingspan Stadium witnessed a stunning result on Sunday as Ulster fell to a shock loss against Zebre Parma and there could be no excuses over the result as the Italians headed back home with the four points.
Zebre had Ulster on the back foot from the off, their aggression, strength and superior footwork building a 15-0 lead which Ulster couldn’t overcome on a typically foul evening of weather.
The loss may well derail Ulster’s hopes of playoff rugby in the league and left Richie Murphy and his squad stunned at the outcome as Zebre won in Belfast for the first time.
It was stalemate for most of the first half-hour, the appalling conditions not helping and after plenty of errors from both teams it fell to Zebre to begin the scoring when Giovanni Montemauri landed a penalty to nudge them ahead.
After that, well, there was very little to write home about, though Zebre clearly had the stronger scrum and caused Ulster all manner of problems around the fringes of rucks or by simply surging through at lineouts.
On 32 minutes, though, it looked like advantage Ulster when Bautista Stavile was yellow-carded for an early hit on Eric O’Sullivan. But even with just 14 on the park, the Italians refused to concede any points and that, combined with Ulster’s inaccuracy when occasionally in the red zone, ensured that there were no further scores in the opening half.
Zebre’s determination to hold their line was exemplified by Gonzalo Garcia’s tackle on Tom Stewart as the Ulster hooker surged for the line.
Ulster now needed to get the scoreboard moving and at least the weather had improved somewhat as the teams returned.
But shortly afterwards, on 46 minutes, Zebre moved the ball, Garcia supplying Stavile with a scoring pass to make the line. Montemauri missed the conversion.
Then Giovanni Licata’s burst led to a penalty and in a flash Zebre were away through Garcia, who supplied Giacomo Da Re on an angle and he surged away to score. Montemauri converted to make it 15-0.
Ulster now looked in deep trouble. They did get their first score, Corrie Barrett crashing over on 56 minutes, with Nathan Doak converting to get them going. Ulster then had a let off as Montemauri was wide with a penalty.
With eight minutes on the clock, Ulster won a penalty and went for goal, though Doak was well wide with the effort.
A rare error from Da Re allowed Ulster another window and this time they took it when Barrett was driven over for his second try. Doak again converted to cut Zebre’s lead to a point but with just four minutes remaining.
But it all ended badly for the hosts, conceding a penalty as they frantically tried to get themselves up the field for either a shot at goal or a flop over the line.
ULSTER: S Moore; M Lowry, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward; J Murphy, J Cooney; E O’Sullivan, T Stewart, S Wilson; H Sheridan, K Treadwell; L McLoughlin, N Timoney (capt), D McCann.
Replacements: C Barrett for Wilson (45 mins); A O’Connor for Treadwell (47); N Doak for Cooney (49); C Reid for O’Sullivan (51); J Andrew for Stewart (53); J Flannery for Murphy (58); Matty Rea for McLoughlin (65); R Lyttle for Ward (69).
ZEBRE PARMA: G Da Re; A Gesi, F Paea, D Mazza, S Gregory; G Montemauri, G Garcia; P Buonfiglio, L Bigi (capt), M Hasa; M Canali, L Krumov; R Nasove, B Stavile, G Licata.
Replacements: J Pitinari for Buonfiglio (46 mins); G Ferrari for Nasove (56); L Andreani for Canali, S Brisighella for Gregory (both 69); L Franceschetto for Hasa (73).
Yellow card: B Stavile (32 mins).
Referee: B Breakspear (WRU).
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