Ulster beat Zebre 40-21 with six tries in Challenge Cup opener

Ulster beat Zebre Parma 40-21 in Parma on 17 October, scoring six tries to claim a bonus point in their European Challenge Cup opener. Zebre’s second-half fightback twice threatened that extra point before Martin Moloney’s late try secured the required three-try margin.

Hooker Henry Walker scored twice on his first competitive start for Ulster. His first was also his first senior try for the province, according to the club’s match report. Jacob Stockdale, David McCann, Michael Lowry and Moloney scored Ulster’s other tries.

How Zebre threatened Ulster’s bonus point

Ulster replacement Jack Murphy was sent to the sin-bin shortly after coming on, and Ortombina scored while the visitors were a player short. Lowry then finished an Ulster attack on the left wing, but Montemauri’s try again left Ulster outside bonus-point range under the competition rule requiring a side to score at least three more tries than its opponent.

Moloney, who had replaced McCann, crossed late to restore that margin. Ulster then defended a Zebre lineout near the end; the club credited Cormac Izuchukwu with a steal before Matthew Devine kicked the ball out to end the match.

What the Parma win means for Ulster

The result was Ulster’s first win of the season, according to The Irish Times, and gave last season’s beaten Challenge Cup finalists a five-point start to this campaign. Ulster named Juarno Augustus Player of the Match.

Before the match, Ulster prop Tom O’Toole had warned that Zebre could be dangerous; the second-half comeback showed why that concern mattered even after Ulster’s strong start.

The Challenge Cup is scheduled to resume for Ulster in December. BBC Sport reported that the side’s next three fixtures are away in the United Rugby Championship, beginning with trips to face the Bulls and Stormers in South Africa.