PRO12: Zebre 11 Ulster 19

Ulster produced a workmanlike performance to beat Zebre 11 – 19 on Saturday afternoon at Stadio XXV Aprile, Parma. The result sees Ulster slip back into the top 4 of the PRO12.

Darren Cave scored Ulster’s only try and Paddy Jackson chipped in with a conversion and four penalties.

It was an anxious opening spell for Ulster who looked as though their minds were elsewhere in a scrappy enough opening quarter. Zebre went 3 -0 ahead in the 9th minute after Tom Court was adjudged to have went down at a scrum but two minutes later Ulster were level with Jackson slotting over a simple penalty after good work at the breakdown from Herring.

The home side were playing the better rugby and with Ulster’s first up tacking fairly sloppy the Italians broke the line too often and too easily. After a period of sustained pressure in the Ulster half the visitors were somewhat fortunate to get away with only a penalty against them after some sneaky work in a ruck from McComb. Garcia obliged with the . . .