Ulster Account For Zebre With Shanahan And Lyttle Touching Down

Ulster secured their fourth win from five in the GUINNESS PRO14, coming out on top in a fractious tussle with Zebre on the occasion of half-back John Cooney’s 50th cap.

There could be no questioning the commitment of both sides, with several flashpoints throughout the Kingspan Stadium tie, but in terms of rugby Ulster had the clear edge, and may feel disappointed to not have picked up a bonus point in the 22-7 victory.

Scores from David Shanahan and Robert Lyttle, together with a penalty try, made the difference, with Luke Marshall turning in another man-of-the-match display in midfield, and Rob Herring heralding his return from Japan with an assured performance in the captaincy role.

Still in search of their first win of the season, Zebre took full advantage of a botched Ulster reception at kick-off, winger Mattia Bellini waltzing under the posts for a first-minute try after some neat interplay from his fellow backs. Out-half Carlo Canna added the extras.

The Italians did well to keep the pressure on their opponents from the restart, Tommaso Boni almost capitalising on his own charge-down of a Shanahan clearance attempt in the 10th minute, the ball just rolling dead before the centre could reach it.

Ulster settled into their game on the quarter hour mark, putting the phases together along the breadth of the Zebre 22, but soon lost Will Addison to what looked like a shoulder injury. Craig Gilroy took over on the wing and the ever-versatile Louis Ludik switched to full-back.

The hosts were soon back on level terms, with Marshall the architect as he scythed past four defenders as if they were not there and darted towards the line before supplying Shanahan for the simplest of finishes.

Bill Johnston’s conversion dispatched, Ulster set about consolidating their foothold in the match, forcing an attacking lineout on the half hour and recycling well until the final pass from Marshall just eluded Marcell Coetzee.

Referee Sam Grove-White brought play back for an earlier infringement, however, and Johnston split the posts to make it 10-7. A mazy run from Lyttle had the home crowd on their feet, five minutes later, but as the rainfall intensified, handling errors from both sides ensured that the remainder of the first half was scoreless.

The Ulstermen came out for the second half with the bit firmly between their teeth, Marshall and Shanahan combining again close to the line but with the scrum half just brought to ground in the nick of time.

They gave the Italians little time to catch their breath, however, with Johnston soon carving himself a path to the line. After seven minutes of sustained pressure, Herring looked to have extended the lead after picking up a loose ball off a lineout maul, only for the score to be ruled out for a block by Kieran Treadwell on Maxime Mbanda.

Undeterred, Ulster got the points they deserved courtesy of their next rolling maul, awarded in the form of a penalty try with former Ulster loanee Ian Nagle sin-binned for hauling down the drive illegally.

The next points came well into the last quarter, but not before another Zebre player took a 10-minute breather on the sidelines – this time flanker Giovanni Licata getting his marching orders for one of the least subtle blocks of the season as Ulster bore down on the line.

Dan McFarland’s charges opted for the scrum and, with another penalty coming, Lyttle calmly waited for Johnston’s cross-field kick to bounce before touching it down near the left corner flag.

Cooney made his entrance to rapturous applause with eight minutes to play, and with Ulster sights now firmly on a potential bonus point, Zebre did well to hold on to possession in the closing minutes and ensure the hosts picked up four points rather than the full five.