Zebre upsets Ulster for a Belfast first

MATCH REPORT: Zebre pulled off a huge shock as they defeated Ulster 15-14 to win for the very first time in Belfast and stun the hosts.

The Italians thoroughly deserved the win, leading 15-0 before Ulster were able to respond on a humiliating occasion for the Irish province and on a match of foul weather.

It took nearly half an hour for any score in the conditions, and when it came it was to the visitors and off a scrum penalty against Ulster.

Giovanni Montemauri nailed the 28th-minute kick to put Zebre 3-0 in front and they kept the lead throughout what remained of the half despite being reduced to 14 men on 32 minutes when Bautista Stavile was yellow carded for an early hit on Eric O’Sullivan.

Ulster now needed to get the scoreboard moving and at least the weather had improved somewhat as the teams returned.

Then after 46 minutes, Zebre moved the ball left and right, Garcia supplying Stavile with a scoring pass to make the line. Montemauri missed the difficult extras.

Giovanni Licata’s burst led to a penalty and in a flash Zebre were away through Garcia whose quick pass to Giacomo Da Re on an angle saw the full-back sweep through to score. Montemauri converted to make it 15-0.

Ulster responded with their first points when Corrie Barrett crashed over on 56 minutes, Nathan Doak converting to get them going.

Ulster then had a let-off as Montemauri was wide with a penalty.

With eight minutes left 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, Doak again converting to cut Zebre’s lead to a point with four minutes remaining.

The scorers

For Ulster
Tries: Barrett 2
Cons: Doak 2

For Zebre
Tries: Stavile, Da Re
Con: Montemauri
Pen: Montemauri

Yellow card: Bautista Stavile (Zebre, 33)

Teams

Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Michael Lowry, 13 Ben Carson, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 John Cooney, 8 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney (captain), 6 Lorcan McLoughlin, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Eric O’Sullivan.
Replacements: 16 John Andrew, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Alan O’Connor, 20 Matty Rea, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Rob Lyttle

Zebre: 15 Giacomo Da Re, 14 Alessandro Gesi, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Scott Gregory, 10 Giovanni Montemauri, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Giovani Licata 7 Bautista Stavile, 6 Rusiate Nasove, 5 Leonard Krumov, 4 Matteo Canali, 3 Muhamed Hasa, 2 Luca Bigi (captain), 1 Paolo Buonfiglio.
Replacements: 16 Giovanni Quattrini, 17 Luca Franceschetto, 18 Juan Pitinari, 19 Giacomo Ferrari, 20 Luca Andreani, 21 Thomas Dominguez, 22 Luca Morisi, 23 Simone Brisighella.

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland), Tomas O’Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Tom Spurrier (Wales)