Guinness PRO12: Zebre open their account at expense of Ulster
Saturday 27 September 2014 18:23, UK
Zebre made the most of Declan Fitzpatrick's red card to beat Ulster 13-6 and clinch their first win of the Guinness PRO12 season.
The Italian side had lost three from three at the start of the new campaign but a try from Dario Chistolini early in the second half and eight points from the boot of Kelly Haimona proved enough against the under-manned visitors.
Ulster - who had come into the game off the back of an impressive triumph over Cardiff last time out - were always up against it from the moment Fitzpatrick was dismissed after just 11 minutes had been played.
The prop was given his marching orders following an incident on the ground, though they still managed to hold out for the remainder of a scoreless first hal
However, Zebre struck a decisive blow six minutes after the break when prop Chistolini crashed over, Haimona converting the score to make it 7-0.
Ulster were able to find an immediate response, substitute Ian Humphreys twice punishing the hosts with the boot in quick succession, knocking over a pair penalties to reduce the gap to a single point with just over 20 minutes to play.
Yet Zebre were determined not to let the opportunity slip through their fingers, standing firm in defence to maintani their slender advantage.
It was their tight defence that eventually laid the platform for Haimona to launch a penalty and a drop goal in the final ten minutes and although Ulster searched desperately for an equalising try, they ultimately fell short on what was a frustrating afternoon.
