Debut win a bonus in Doak eyes

Zebre 1 Ulster 36

SCRUM-HALF Nathan Doak was delighted get a second bonus point win of the URC season even if Ulster’s performance left a lot of room for improvement.

They bossed matters at Stadio Lanfranchi in Parma but it still took them time to stamp their authority on the scoreboard in an errorridden encounter.

“We did not panic and in the second-half we knew what we needed to do and we got there in the end,” said former Irish U-20 Doak who was starting his first match for the province.

He almost crowned his maiden start with a try but was denied by Italian out-half Carlo Canna, but the reprieve was short-lived for Michael Bradley’s men.

Ulster worked the ball from a scrum with Doak and Billy Burns combining to put Ethan McIlroy away in the left corner.

McIlroy extended the lead to 10-3 at the break with his second try in the left corner after being set up by Hume.

Ulster dominated the second-half as the Zebre challenge wilted.

Craig Gilroy put Will Addision through for their second try and then after Zebre replacement prop

Ion Neculai and flanker Maxime Mbanda were binned, he set up Hume for the bonus point.

Nick Timoney completed the rout when he got over for two tries, the first after several drives and the second in the dying moments when he burst through from deep to score to maintain their perfect start to the campaign and leave Zebre facing another tough season.

ZEBRE: Pen: A Rizzi.

ULSTER: Tries: E McIlroy (2), N Timoney (2), W Addison, J Hume, Cons: B Burns, N Doak, M Lowry.

FORM Doak is presented with URC man of match medal by Alan O’Connor

TRY Ethan McIlroy runs in to score for Ulster in Italy