Baloucoune hat-trick not enough as Ulster lose hectic clash with Lions  

A total of 80 points and a dozen tries were scored at Ellis Park but Richie Murphy's side saw their winning start to the season come to an end

REACHING OUT: Robert Baloucoune of Ulster dives over to score his third try during the United Rugby Championship match between Emirates Lions and Ulster at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile

URC: Lions 49 Ulster 31

Rob Baloucoune's hat-trick wasn't enough to save Ulster as the province  suffered their first setback of the United Rugby Championship season, slipping to a 49-31 defeat to the Lions in Johannesburg.

After winning each of their first three matches, including two hugely impressive victories against South African opponents, Ulster came up short in a high-scoring affair at Ellis Park.

Across 80 hectic minutes, a full dozen tries were ran in during a high-altitude clash that would have left defensive coaches with the dizziest of heads. 

Richie Murphy's side were on course at half-time, leading 19-17 on the back of two tries from Baloucoune and one from James Hume.

SJ Kotze and Eduan Keyter also crossed early for the hosts but it was after half-time that they turned on the style.

Baloucoune completed his hat-trick and David McCann crossed but the tide of scoring from the Lions was relentless as they ran in five more touchdowns courtesy of Ruan Venter, Renzo du Plessis, Henco van Wyk, Conraad van Vuuren and Morne Brandon.

Chris Smith added another 14 points with his boot, with four conversions and two penalties.

Scorers for Lions: Tries: Kotze, Keyter, Venter, Du Plessis, Van Wyk, Van Vuuren 2 Cons: Smith 4 Pens: Smith 2

Scorers for Ulster: Tries: Baloucoune 3, Hume, McCann Cons: Doak 2, Flannery

Lions: Q Horn; Keyter, Van Wyk, Mills, Davids; Smith, Steyn; Kotze, Marais, Ntlabakanye, Oosthuizen, Nothnagel, Cairns, Venter, F. Horn (capt). Replacements: Brandon, Schoeman, van Vuuren, Landsberg, du Plessis, L Horn, Lombard, Mpeku.

Sin-bin: Ntlabakanye (27) 

Ulster: Lowry; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Herring (capt), O'Toole, Sheridan, Hopes, McCann, Stewart, B Ward. Replacements: McCormick, Reid, Wilson, Dalton, Rea, McKee, Flannery, Kok.

Referee: Ben Connor (WRU)

PA