Ulster dominate second half to see off Benetton

Captain Iain Henderson was injured in the warm up.

BACK TO WINNING WAYS: Ulster’s Robert Baloucoune scores their fifth try despite Leonardo Marin of Benetton as Jacob Stockdale celebrates. Picture: ©INPHO/Nick Elliott

URC: Ulster 47 Benetton 13

Ulster peeled off 35 unanswered second-half points as they turned a slender deficit at the break into a comprehensive 47-13 victory over Benetton.

Captain Iain Henderson was ruled out after the warm-up with Matthew Dalton stepping into the second row and Charlie Irvine coming onto the bench. However, Dalton was injured early in the game and had to be substituted.

Seeking to get back to winning ways after losing at the Lions before the international break, Ulster went ahead through Robert Baloucoune and Werner Kok tries, with the latter converted.

They trailed 13-12 at the break as Bautista Bernasconi touched down and Jacob Umaga added the extras before the Benetton fly-half also splitting the posts with two penalties in the first half at the Affidea Stadium.

However, James Hume's converted try restored Ulster's lead and it was one-way traffic from then on.

Kok and Baloucoune both claimed their second scores of the night, sandwiched by a penalty try and Harry Sheridan dotting down, as Ulster claimed an impressive bonus-point victory.

Ulster's fourth win in five matches moves them up to third in the table, while Benetton remain 10th after a fourth defeat in six outings.

ULSTER: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Kok; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Stewart, Wilson, Dalton, McCann, Timoney, Augustus.

Replacements: Herring, Reid, O'Toole, Irvine, Ward, Shanahan, Flannery, Moore.

BENETTON: Smith; Ratave, Odogwu, Drago, Mendy; Umaga, Uren, Fa'aso'o; Lamaro, Kingi, Snyman, Ruzza, Zilocchi, Bernasconi, Aminu.

Replacements: Montilla, Tetaz Chaparro, Gallorini, Marini, Bryant, Werchon, Marin.

Referee: Sam Grove-White