Johnston And McIlroy Notch First Tries In Ulster Rout

Unbeaten Ulster remain right on Leinster’s coattails at the top of Conference A, following a thorough nine-try 57-14 demolition of Zebre in Parma tonight.

They pocketed their bonus point by half-time, leading 26-7 thanks to a Marcell Coetzee hat-trick and young centre Stewart Moore’s second try of the season.

Player-of-the-match Coetzee finished with four tries on the occasion of his 50th cap, becoming the first Ulster player to touch down four times in a PRO14 or European fixture.

Bill Johnston, who kicked six conversions, and Ethan McIlroy, on his full debut, both crossed the whitewash for the first time in Ulster colours. The other tries were registered by Luke Marshall and replacement David Shanahan.

Ulster started strongly, putting in wave after wave of attacking phases, before Coetzee muscling his way over in the fifth minute. Out-half Johnston confidently added the conversion.

The Italian side was quick to respond, their right winger Pierre Bruno doing well to keep hold of the ball from a cross-field kick, and after a TMO review, the try was awarded.

Antonio Rizzi’s conversion levelled matters after 10 minutes, but gradually Dan McFarland’s men were able to put some distance between themselves and their hosts.

With 24 minutes on the clock, Coetzee got his second score of the night off the back of a dominant maul. He showed impressive strength to get the ball down amid a pile of Zebre bodies on the line.

Zebre, who sit bottom of the Conference A table, had the opportunity to reduce the deficit through a penalty but Rizzi’s kick missed the target.

Ulster immediately went on the attack again, with full-back Michael Lowry going on a superb run down the left from a charge-down. His pass was sent loose by a Zebre hand, which Moore gratefully collected to dot down.

Coetzee made it a hat-trick when he snuck through the middle of an advancing maul for a well-taken bonus point score, just before the break. Johnston slotted the extras.

The try-huntry Ulstermen ploughed further ahead in the second half. Although Zebre foiled their lineout drive this time, Alby Mathewson quickly got the ball away for his half-back partner Johnston to score on the blindside and convert.

Marshall, who recently returned from injury was next on the scoresheet, cutting an excellent line inside to score in the 49th minute. Johnston was again on target from the tee.

Zebre got their second try of the evening through Nicolo Casilio, the replacement scrum half darting over from a quick tap. Paolo Pescetto’s conversion left the scoreboard showing 40-14.

Coetzee was not finished for the night, and the powerhouse number 8 once again barrelled over on the hour mark. The flags stayed down for Johnston’s conversion attempt.

It was a night to remember for promising Academy youngster McIlroy, who marked his first start with a deserved try with six minutes remaining.

The 20-year-old winger collected a peach of a long pass from Ian Madigan and cut inside two defenders to open his try account in the left corner, taking Ulster up to the 50-point mark in the process.

Johnston missed the conversion but did tag on the two points to Shanahan’s last-minute score, with the Dubliner running a lovely support line off Sean Reidy to go in under the posts.