Ulster suffer defeat by Lions in URC encounter

Ulster's Stuart McCloskey comes up against Lions flanker Jarod Cairns

Lions (15) 35

Tries: Maxwane, Horne, Marais, Van Wyk, Wolhuter Cons: Wolhuter 2 Pens: Wolhuter 2

Ulster (5) 22

Tries: Cooney, Morgan, Kok, Barrett Cons: Doak

Ulster suffered their first defeat of the new United Rugby Championship season as they salvaged a bonus point from a 35-22 loss to the Lions in Johannesburg.

Tries from Rabz Maxwane and Francke Horn put the hosts in control, before John Cooney went over to give Ulster hope as they trailed 15-5 at the break.

Franco Marais, Henco Van Wyk and Kade Wolhuter crossed in the second half to secure a bonus-point victory, while Aidan Morgan, Werner Kok, on his first start for the province, and Corrie Barrett scored Ulster's second-half tries.

It was the Lions' first game of the URC campaign after they lost the Currie Cup final last week, while Ulster had begun their season with a last-gasp success over Glasgow.

The Irish side now travel to Pretoria to face the Bulls on 5 October.

Lions dominant

The Lions were dominant in both territory and possession for almost the entire first half and were rewarded for their superiority with two first-half tries.

After 10 minutes, from a Lions lineout, the hosts got their maul rolling down the right flank, with hooker PJ Botha breaking away, before offloading to captain Horne who made ground down the wing and set Maxwane free to race over the line.

Wolhuter missed the conversion but split the posts with a penalty five minutes later after Ulster had been penalised at the breakdown.

Five minutes before the interval flanker Horne rumbled over to increase his side's lead after the home side again used the rolling maul to good effect following a lineout, Wolhuter adding the extras on this occasion.

The Irish province finally began to show some enterprise late in the first half as Cooney crossed in stoppage time to reduce his side's arrears, the number nine darting over from the back of a ruck.

Ulster's scrum-half passed up the opportunity to cut their opponents' lead further as he was off-target with his conversion attempt from a kickable position.

New Ulster fly-half Aidan Morgan scored a try in the second half

See-saw second half

Richie Murphy's side began the second half in similar fashion as they finished the first with Kiwi fly-half Morgan crossing for his second score in as many games.

Ulster showed impressive handling and patient build-up as they went through the phases and then the execution was clinical as Morgan accepted a pass from half-back partner Cooney and dived over between two defenders.

The Lions responded strongly but had a try disallowed when referee Sam Grove-White adjudged that Rynhardt Jonker had been held up after consultation with the Television Match Official [TMO].

The South African side again used the rolling maul as an effective weapon for their third score, replacement hooker Marais dotting down to restore their 10-point lead.

On the 50th minute mark, the Lions went over unchallenged for their bonus-point try, substitute Van Wyk breaking clear to touch down after full-back Quan Horn collected a high ball and made ground through a number of missed Ulster tackles.

Wolhuter added the additional two points and kicked a further penalty to put 20 points between the sides.

Ulster fought back again as Kok scored his first Ulster try, winning the foot race with Wulhuter and using his momentum to roll over the line for a score after Nathan Doak had broken down the right and executed a clever grubber kick.

The tourists ensured they would leave with a bonus point when Barrett picked up and crashed over after a period of pressure, Doak converting from in front of the posts.

Wolhuter took his personal tally to 15 points with his side's fifth try, scoring in the corner to take advantage of a tired Ulster side who were stretched as they looked for another score.

How they lined up

Lions: Quan Horn; Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Tapiwa Mafura; Kade Wolhuter, Sanele Nohamba; Morgan Naude, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye; Reinard Nothnagel, Darrien Landsberg; Jarod Cairns, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (capt)

Replacements: Franco Marais, Juan Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Ruben Schoeman, Siba Qoma, Renzo du Plessis, Nico Steyn, Henco van Wyk

Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O’Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Alan O’Connor (capt); Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.

Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Mike Lowry, David McCann.