Moore’s First Try Helps Ulster To Hard-Earned Bonus Point Victory

Ulster survived a spirited Benetton fight-back to kick off the new Guinness PRO14 season with a 35-24 bonus point victory in a high-scoring thriller in Belfast.

The 600 spectators inside the Kingspan Stadium – the first ones able to watch a game there since last February – were treated to a pulsating contest which saw both sides commit to playing fast and free-flowing rugby.

Six tries were shared in a helter-skelter first half which ended level as Benetton recovered from falling 14-0 and 21-7 down. The Italians moved ahead in the second period but tries from Marcell Coetzee and Adam McBurney ensured a winning start for the recent PRO14 runners-up.

The first half was played at a blistering pace throughout and it was the hosts who drew first blood after a moment of magic from quick-witted scrum half John Cooney in the eighth minute.

The Ulster and Ireland half-back weighted his grubber kick perfectly with the outside of his boot and in-form centre James Hume chased in beside the posts to score the opening try – just as he had in last month’s PRO14 final defeat to Leinster.

Cooney converted before contributing another assist just three minutes later, providing the final pass to give the impressive Stewart Moore a simple run in for a try on his first senior start for Ulster.

At 14-0 down inside the opening quarter-of-an-hour, it looked as though it could be a long night for Benetton but the visitors roared back and set up camp inside the Ulster half. Federico Ruzza succeeded in muscling over from five metres out and Paolo Garbisi added the extras to halve the deficit.

Ulster went straight back on the attack and restored their two-try cushion when the versatile Michael Lowry dotted down in the left corner for another score set up by Cooney, who nailed his conversion from the touchline.

With eight minutes left before the interval, Ireland star Jacob Stockdale was sin-binned for a high tackle on Dewaldt Duvenage and Benetton took full advantage of their sudden numerical advantage.

Powerful breaks from Iliesa Ratuva Tavuyara laid the platform for both of Benetton’s late first half tries, with Garbisi going over on 32 minutes and Braam Steyn stretching out a left hand to follow suit barely six minutes later.

Both were converted by Garbisi to ensure a hugely entertaining first half ended all square at 21 points apiece. When play resumed, the Italy Under-20 starlet slotted over a penalty in the 43rd minute to put Benetton in front for the first time.

Their lead lasted just a matter of minutes, however, as South African powerhouse Coetzee lunged over to secure Ulster’s bonus point and put the hosts back in the ascendancy.

Aided by an industrious performance from man-of-the-match Matthew Rea, Ulster then had to dig in for a spell as Benetton again put together some threatening moves but the cutting edge of the first half was lacking.

Dan McFarland’s men, who have two debutants in replacements David McCann and Gareth Milasinovich, then stepped up their intensity and took advantage of the visitors’ tiring defence to settle the outcome. Reserve hooker McBurney powered over from a 73rd-minute rolling maul.