Trokkie scores as Ulster's second-half blitz sinks Bulls

MATCH REPORT: The Bulls suffered their first defeat of their United Rugby Championship season, going down to Ulster by 7-28 in Belfast.

There was nothing in it at half-time with the scores tied at 7-all, but three quickfire second-half tries by Ulster ultimately sunk the visitors.

The result propelled Ulster ahead of the Bulls in fourth place on the URC table, with the Bulls dropping down to fifth spot.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

The Bulls started shaky but recovered well to win a penalty and opted for the five-metre line-out, but Ulster repelled it successfully.

Both teams showed their willingness to give the ball air, but errors stalled their momentum in the opening quarter of the match.

The Bulls were dealt an early injury blow in the 14th minute when fullback Devon Williams was helped off the field on a medical cart and replaced by Willie le Roux.

Wing Sebastian de Klerk’s linebreak into Ulster’s red zone led to a penalty for offside play.

The Bulls opted to scrum and earned another penalty. They opted for the five-metre line-out.

The visitors worked their way over Ulster’s line through their maul, and after a TMO consultation, it was ruled that the ball was lost forward.

Moments later, Ulster got onto the scoreboard through Stuart McCloskey in the 22nd minute, which Nathan Doak converted.

Jacob Stockdale lost the ball after the restart, and the Bulls had an attacking scrum in prime real estate, winning a penalty.

A series of penalties to the Bulls followed in Ulster’s red zone, and referee Mike Adamson lost his patience, sending Rob Herring to the sin bin for the repeated offences in the 26th minute.

The Bulls opted for the tap penalty and finally got their reward on the 27th minute mark when Wilco Louw got the ball down, which Handre Pollard converted.

A penalty on the 40-minute mark to the Bulls gave the visitors a final attacking line-out, but Canan Moodie chip-kicked the ball too far.

The mark was called, bringing an end to the opening stanza.

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The second half started the worst possible way for the Bulls when Jeandre Rudolph was sent to the sin-bin in the 46th minute for a cynical breakdown action following a linebreak by Jack Murphy

Ulster opted for the tap penalty and got their reward through a try by Juarno Augustus in the 49th minute after multiple carries by the forwards. Doak slotted the conversion.

The Bulls conceded a penalty for a deliberate knock-on inside their 22 metre area and Ulster opted for the line-out.

Rob Herring made up for his first-half indiscretion, scoring a try off the rolling maul in the 54th minute, which Doak converted.

The floodgates opened when Ulster scored their bonus point try through Cormac Izuchuwu in the 56th minute, which left the Bulls with a mountain to climb. Doak added the extras.

The Bulls regained momentum after a series of penalties conceded by Ulster.

They opted for the tap and go play, but knocked the ball on heading into the final 10 minutes of the match.

Ulster had an opportunity to add the cherry on top following a linebreak by Stockdale, but the fullback’s pop pass to Conor McKee was lost forward.

The Bulls had an opportunity to have the final say through an attacking line-out, but Ulster defended the visitors’ maul successfully to bring an end to the contest.

Scorers

For Ulster:
Tries: McCloskey, Augustus, Herring, Izuchukwu
Cons: Doak 4

For the Bulls:
Try: Louw
Con: Pollard

Yellow cards: Rob Herring (Ulster, 26′ – cynical foul: repeated team infringements), Jeandre Rudolph (Bulls, 46′ – cynical foul: hands in the ruck after a linebreak)

Teams

Ulster: 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 (captain), 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

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 (captain), 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

Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Cole (Ireland) & Padraic Reidy (Ireland)
TMO: Colin Brett (Scotland)