Ulster register statement of intent with dismissal of Bulls

Ulster scored four tries and leaked just one in a performance of ambition and variation.

Jacob Stockdale of Ulster is tackled by Stravino Jacobs of Vodacom Bulls during the United Rugby Championship match between Ulster and Vodacom Bulls at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo by Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

URC: Ulster 28 Bulls 7

Ulster put out a statement of intent with this bonus point win over last season’s losing finalists, the province putting their ambition with ball in hand firmly on show in a compelling performance.

They scored four tries and leaked just one, with three scores from the 49th to the 56th minute proving pivotal when Juarno Augustus, Rob Herring and Cormac Izuchukwu all breached the visitors’ line.

The province brought ambition and variation to the start of this game. Jack Murphy dinking over the top of the Bulls’ rush defence which nearly came off for Stuart McCloskey and, of course, Juarno Augustus having a go when he could, driving into midfield off scrums to try and give he hosts go-forward.

Then on the quarter hour mark, Sebastian de Klerk cut through and was stopped by Jacob Stockdale just short of the line.

But the Bulls kept coming and after two scrums, the Bulls went for the corner and mauled over only to be knocked on at the line though the decision went upstairs and Mike Adamson’s decision for no try was upheld.

It was a warning to Richie Murphy’s side, and they responded by finding a breakthrough though it came from unstructured play.

Ulster went 7-0 ahead after a frantic first 20 minutes, Nathan Doak’s hack through being chased down by Stuart McCloskey who got the touchdown after outpacing Marco van Staden. Doak converted to bring the home side the maximum return.

But then things got ugly, prompting fears that last season’s inconsistency maybe hadn’t left Ulster. Stockdale’s knock-on at the restart then gave the Bulls an ideal position in the red zone and even though Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg lost the ball at the line, they came back for a penalty and after another, Rob Herring was yellow carded in the 26th minute.

It was no great surprise that the Bulls made the extra man count and a minute later Wilco Louw surged over from close range for their opening points. Handre Pollard did the needful with the extra two and the sides were level.

Doak then had a shot for the posts after the Bulls were pinged at a breakdown but hit the upright and the South Africans cleared though there was briefly some panic in their ranks.

Herring returned with no further scores from either eside and though Dave McCann was pinged late on, allowing Pollard put the Bulls back in Ulster’s danger zone, the half came to a rather flat end when Canan Moodie chipped the ball which was easily collected by Doak.

The new half opened with Ulster in the ascendant and Ulster took advantage when Jeandre Rudolph was binned and Ulster looked primed to score.

It was Augustus who burrowed through after Ulster laid siege to the Bulls line. Doak converted and they were 14-7 ahead.

Shortly afterwards, Herring had their third, spinning off a driving maul which Doak again converted and then some great work from Stockdale and David McCann provided Cormac Izuchukwu with try number four and the bonus which, once more Doak converted.

With clock running down, the Bulls threw everything at clawing back a score but just couldn’t get over the line.

Ulster: J Stockdale, R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, Z Ward, J Murphy, N Doak, S Crean, R Herring, T O'Toole, I Henderson (Capt), C Izuchukwu, D McCann, N Timoney, J Augustus Replacements: T Stewart for Baloucoune 34-36mins and Herring 59mins, E O’Sullivan for Crean 62mins, S Wilson for O’Toole 46mins, H Sheridan for Augustus 60mins, S Reffell for Augustus 60mins, C McKee for Doak 74mins, J Flannery for Murphy 70mins, J Postlethwaite for McCloskey 68mins.

Vodacom Bulls: D Williams, S de Klerk, C Moodie, H Vorster, S Jacobs, H Pollard, Z Burger, G Steenekamp, J Grobbelaar (Capt), W Louw, C Wiese, N Janse van Rensburg, M van Staden, M Gumede, J Rudolph Replacements: J Else for Grobbelaar 68mins, J-H Wessels for Steenekamp 53mins, M Smith for Louw mins, R Ludwig for mins, N Xaba for van Staden 51mins, P de Wet for Burger 59mins, D Kriel for Vorster 70mins, W le Roux for Williams 14mins.

Referee: Mike Adamson (SRU)