Match Reports

Match Report | Zebre Parma 36-40 Ulster

21st October 2023

In an enthralling encounter which swung back and forth, Ulster edged out a big win with some late drama at the death.

The first match of the season brought a new look side too, with Dave Ewers, Greg McGrath and James French all making their debut appearances in an Ulster jersey over the course of the match.

Will Addison marked his return to competitive action at full-back, after two years out with injury. Ulster also had a positional change for Mike Lowry, with the Ulsterman starting on the right wing, a shift from his usual full-back role.

Ulster hooker and Ireland international, Tom Stewart, marked a proud moment as he was named captain of the team.

With Ulster arriving in Parma, the Italian side were kicking off their season on their own turf, and were hoping to change the script after going winless in their URC campaign last year.

After running Leinster and the Sharks close last year, they aimed to go one better and pick up a famous win.

They started the match on the front foot and made the first breakthrough of the fixture, as they scored following a lineout maul. The impressive fly half, Prisciantelli, successfully stuck his kick between the posts to send the home crowd wild.

Ulster rallied from the early setback to level the match just minutes later, with fly-half, Jake Flannery, scoring the province’s first try of the campaign. Nathan Doak nailed his conversion to level affairs.

Zebre hit back soon after, with an impressive attacking move finished off by Giovanni Licati.

Ulster rallied from the second blow to level the match, a well worked move found David McCann close to the wing in the Zebre 22 and his clever offload found Mike Lowry, who sped past Zebre’s defence to score his first try of the season. Nathan Doak converted the try to tie the score at 14-14.

In true Yo-Yo fashion, the home side hit back minutes later when Lorenzo Pani bulldozed his way through.

Ulster counter-punched with another try, this time wing Jacob Stockdale dotting down in the corner, after a lovely pass from Jake Flnnery to send him galloping down the touchline. Doak was again able to convert.

The team were guilty of giving away a few penalties around the Zebre mauls, in the next period, with Zebre ten, Prisciantelli attempting to kick home a pen that was short of the posts.

Before the stroke of half-time, matters got worse as Kieran Treadwell was shown a yellow for an infringement at a Zebre maul. With 14 on the field, Zebre punished the province before half-time with a fortunate cross field kick bouncing ever so kindly for the oncoming winger Gregory to delight the Italian support.

At half-time Ulster had work to do.

HT: 26-21

The Italians came out with a bang to the second half, as Simone Gesi darted over to extend the home side's lead. Prisciantelli was unable to convert his kick.

McFarland rang the changes around the 50 minute mark, with Nick Timoney, Cormac Izuchukwu, Callum Reid and James French coming on to freshen things.

In keeping with the flow of the game, as Ulster pushed up in to the Zebre half, they soon found their fourth try of the match through the captain Tom Stewart, who ran a good support line for Stewart Moore, whose accurate offload found the hooker. Doak narrowed the gap to 3 points with his boot.

For the first time in the afternoon, Ulster took the lead. Jacob Stockdale diving over for his second try in the corner after a lovely pass from James Hume to give him space. Ulster were starting to get their maul revved up and it was a move that came from an attacking lineout maul. Doak was unable to convert the try on this occasion.

Ulster gave themselves some daylight after Tom Stewart gave us a reminder of what he does best, scoring a try from a devastating maul drive. Nathan showed his calmness from the tee, with a sublime kick to give the away side a nine point buffer.

That buffer wasn't to stay that way, as Simone Gesi scored his second try of the half, as he managed to gather a clever little kick from the Zebre ten to narrow the gap.

In the dying minutes of the match, it was all down to Ulster defending their four-point lead, as Zebre were awarded a scrum, following a knock-on near the Ulster 5m line.

After a couple of penalties were conceded and a yellow card to Ulster tighthead James French, the team had to hold out with 14 men on the pitch.

The match was on a knife-edge as Zebre opted for a tap and go, instead of packing down for another scrum.

Ulster managed to steal the ball through replacement hooker, John Andrew, making a game-winning steal which ended the contest with the clock in the red.

The team celebrated a hard-earned bonus-point win against a Zebre side that put up a top fight in a thrilling game that swung both ways for most of the entire contest.

FT: Zebre Parma 36-40 Ulster