The Bulls went down fighting against Ulster in their United Rugby Championship conflict on the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday, going down 32-23 in a gripping spherical 16 fixture.
The first half was a ding-dong battle as each side threw all the pieces at each other, however the Bulls had the sting on the scoreboard with a helpful 20-12 lead on the break as each groups scored two tries apiece.
An exhilarating second half ensued because the groups threw all the pieces at each other ensuing in a gripping finish to the conflict, with Ulster hooker Tom Steward incomes his hat-trick, whereas they restricted the South Africans to a penalty aim for his or her efforts as two Bulls gamers have been despatched to the sin bin.
Ulster have been first on the scoreboard as wing Rob Baloucoune dashed by way of in the nook in the second minute after profiting from area out large, however their lead was lowered to 2 factors in the 14th minute as Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith slotted a penalty aim after lacking an earlier try on the posts.
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The Pretoria aspect continued to make their presence felt with Springbok speedster Kurt-Lee Arendse gathering a shocking chip kick to the touch down for his or her first attempt in the 19th minute, and Smith added the additional two factors to nudge them right into a 10-5 lead.
Ulster got here near scoring in the 23rd and the 24th minutes, however they have been held out by the stable defence, nonetheless, their third try proved profitable with Stewart forcing his means over from a rolling maul, and so they added the extras to reclaim a two-point lead.
The Bulls hit again once more, this time by scrumhalf Zak Burger after choosing up the ball from the bottom of the ruck and diving over, and the Pretoria aspect once more pushed their means right into a 20-12 lead due to Smith’s second penalty aim on the stroke of halftime.
The guests misplaced No 8 Elrigh Louw to a yellow card in the opening minutes of the second half, and Ulster took full benefit of this with Steward scoring his second attempt, and the profitable conversion noticed them cut back their deficit to 20-19.
Ulster continued to struggle with intent with Steward crashing over in the 54th minute to safe a hat-trick and the conversion noticed the hosts reclaim the lead.
A 3rd penalty aim by Smith in the 63rd minute, nonetheless, noticed each groups below strain in the closing levels of the sport, and it was Ulster who pushed the sport to the sting with a useful penalty aim in the 73rd minute to take a 29-23 lead with minutes left on the clock.
A yellow card for the Bulls’ alternative hooker Bismarck du Plessis didn’t assist their trigger and the guests have been pressured to accept the disappointing 32-23 defeat, with a second penalty aim costing them a dropping bonus-point.
Scorers:
Ulster 32 (12) – Tries: Rob Baloucoune, Tom Steward (3). Conversions: Nathan Doak (3). Penalty targets: Doak, John Cooney.
Bulls 23 (20) – Tries: Kurt-Lee Arendse, Zak Burger. Conversions: Chris Smith (2). Penalty targets: Smith (3).
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