Ulster 26-19 Bulls: Ulster hold off Bulls to win on new 3G pitch

Ulster made it two wins from two in the United Rugby Championship with a 26-19 victory over Bulls on their new artificial 3G pitch at Kingspan Stadium.

Tom Stewart and Jacob Stockdale scored early tries but Gerhard Steenkamp and Sebastian de Klerk responded for the Bulls, who trailed 14-12 at half-time.

Nathan Doak kicked Ulster further clear but Elrigh Louw crossed for the Bulls.

Scrum-half Doak kicked 16 points to help the hosts over the line.

• Ulster v Bulls - as it happened

On the new artificial pitch, which was making its highly anticipated debut with players and fans split on the new surface, Ulster immediately tried their expansive game as Will Addison, playing his first home match in two years after injury, and Stockdale stretched their legs.

After a period camped under the posts, the Bulls gave away a penalty and Stewart decided to tap and go, and the top scorer in the URC last season grabbed his third of the new campaign. Doak added the extras.

The Bulls, who put 62 points on Scarlets in their opening match, added pressure but, after Baloucoune superbly read a cross-field kick, it was Ulster on the attack once more and Jude Postlewaite was unfortunate not to gather a kick in his own as he charged towards the corner.

The hosts spurned another chance when Nathan Doak's pick and go on the line saw the ball stripped away and the South Africans exerted pressure of their own after clearing the ball away.

Addison was sent to the bin after infringing at the breakdown, but Ulster pinched the Bulls' line-out and the 14 men capitalised when Stockdale acrobatically finished in the corner, with Doak again adding the two points from the tee.

The Bulls hit back four minutes before half-time when Steenkamp powered his way over and managed to score their second try with the final play of the half when De Klerk raced over in the corner. Johan Goosen missed his second conversion as the Bulls trailed by two points at the break.

Ulster hold off Bulls fightback

Jacob Stockdale scored a superb second try for Ulster on the new artificial 3G pitch at Kingspan Stadium

Ulster started the second half on the front foot, Doak knocking over an early penalty, and the electric Stockdale was metres away from his second try of the match when he superbly broke from inside his own half.

Referee Gianluca Gnecchi blew for a penalty and Doak opted to kick for the posts.

The rain arrived in Belfast midway through the second half but it did not deter Doak, who nudged Ulster further clear with another well-struck penalty from the tee.

Like in the first half, the Bulls came again and Louw drove over the line with 11 minutes to go and the try was awarded after a quick TMO check, Goosens adding the conversion.

However, poor discipline in their own 22 cost the Bulls and Doak continued his 100% record from the tee with another well-struck penalty to build a seven-point buffer.

The South Africans set up a nervy finish as they piled pressure on the Ulster line in search for the converted try that would draw the game, but Ulster forced a turnover through David McCann with seconds to play and Doak sent the ball into the stands to end the game.

Ulster: Addison; Baloucoune, Hume, Postlethwaite, Stockdale; Burns, Doak; Warwick, Stewart, O'Toole; O'Connor (capt), Izuchukwu; Ewers, McCann, Timoney.

Replacements: Andrew, Reid, McGrath, Sheridan, Marcus Rea, Shanahan, Moore, Lowry.

Bulls: Williams; de Klerk, Kriel, Hendricks, Jacobs; Goosen, Papier; Steenekamp, Grobbelaar, W Louw; Vermaak, Nortje; Coetzee, E Louw, Hanekon.

Replacements: van der Merwe, Matanzima, Smith, Ludwig, Carr, Burger, Smith, Gans.

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