United Rugby Championship: Ulster survive major scare to beat Zebre Parma 40-36

Ulster survived a major scare on the opening day of the new URC season as they recovered from a 10-point deficit to beat Zebre 40-36 in Parma.

Both sides scored six tries in an entertaining end-to-end match which could have gone either way.

Jacob Stockdale and Tom Stewart both crossed twice for Ulster, Jake Flannery and Michael Lowry the other scorers.

Simone Gesi went over twice for Zebre, David Sisi, Giovanni Licati, Lorenzo Pani and Scott Gregory also crossing.

Zebre, who failed to register a win in their 18 games in the competition last season, led 26-21 at the break and extended that by five soon after, but in the end there was disappointment as they fell just short despite a spirited performance against an under-par Ulster side.

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Zebre began the game strongly and crossed the Ulster line for the first time when David Sisi steered a lineout maul close to Ulster's line and crashed over, Geronimo Prisciantelli adding the first of three successful conversions in the opening period.

The visitors drew level when Flannery went over from a few yards out and Nathan Doak kicked the extras, as he did with each of Ulster's first-half tries.

The hosts restored their advantage soon after when Giovanni Licati scored following an incisive piece of play.

Winger Ben Cambriani made the initial break and the ball went through the hands, with Licati applying the finish.

Again Ulster responded, Michael Lowry collecting a clever off-load from David McCann and jinking his way over.

James Hume (left) in action against Fetuli Paea in Parma

The Irish province's defence continued to look porous and Lorenzo Pani powered over for try number three for Zebre.

Ulster drew level for a third time with their next converted try when they launched an attack off a lineout maul and Flannery lobbed a pass over the head of Zebre players into the hands of Stockdale, who dived over in the corner.

Ulster gave up two successive maul penalties and while Prisciantelli was off-target with a penalty attempt, the next touchdown of a frenetic first half was not far away.

With Kieran Treadwell having received a yellow card for a maul infringement, his side lost a scrum against the head and Zebre capitalised to secure their bonus point, Prisciantelli's cross-field kick being collected by Gregory, who went over.

The Italian side began the second half where they left off in the first, Gesi taking advantage of his side's continued one-man advantage by completing a flowing move by crossing his opponents' line.

Head coach Dan McFarland responded by introducing a raft of replacements off the Ulster bench and his charges moved to within three points when they breached the Zebre defences, Stewart dotting down under the posts after collecting an off-load from Stewart Moore and Doak making sure of the additional two points.

Burns made a positive impact as a replacement and his pass to James Hume stretched the Zebre defence, setting up Stockdale go over in the corner for his second try of the game and put Ulster in front for the first time in the match.

Now looking more composed and in control of the game, Ulster notched their sixth try from a tried and trusted method, Stewart peeling off the back of a rolling maul and crossing the whitewash.

Doak's fifth conversion gave his side some breathing space, increasing their lead to nine.

The home side were not finished however, going through the phases before Gesi gathered a clever kick into the in-goal area to run over for the score.

Zebre pressed for the winning try and with the clock going into the red, James French was yellow-carded after a scrum penalty was conceded, but the hosts were unable to capitalise as they coughed up the ball after a tap penalty.

A relieved Ulster kicked the ball into touch and will be happy to leave Italy with a hard-fought win.

Zebre: Pani, Cambriani, Paea, Lucchin, Gesi, Prisciantelli, Garcia, Buonfiglio, Bigi, Pitinari, Sisi, Zambonin, Volpi, Ferrari, Licata.

Replacements: Ribaldi, Hasa, Genovese, Canali, Stavile Bravin, Fusco, Eden, Gregory.

Ulster: Addison, Lowry, Hume, Curtis, Stockdale, Flannery, Doak, Warwick, Stewart, G. McGrath, M. Rea, Treadwell, Ewers, M. Rea, McCann.

Replacements: Andrew, Reid, French, Izuchukwu, Timoney, Shanahan, Burns, S. Moore.

Shanahan, Burns, S. Moore.

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

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