Burns to the rescue for Ulster at Cheetahs

BILLY BURNS kicked a last-gasp conversion as Ulster continued their unbeaten start to their Guiness PRO14 campaign by snatching a dramatic draw against Toyota Cheetahs. The Conference B leaders trailed for the majority of the match in Bloemfontein before fly-half Burns kept his cool under extreme pressure following Henry Speight’s injurytime try. Two converted tries from scrum-half David Shanahan, both assisted by centre Darren Cave, meant the Irish side went in three points behind at half-time following scores from Cheetahs pair Gerhard Olivier and William SmallSmith, and Tian Schoeman’s penalty. The South Africans’ second-half tries from hookers Joseph Dweba and Jacques du Toit and wing Rabz Maxwane looked to have put them on course for victory, although Johnny Stewart’s score and a penalty try gave Ulster hope. Louis Fouche’s 78thminute penalty extended the hosts’ lead to seven, before Australian Speight powered over in the final moments and Burns, who kicked 12 points during the course of the match, added the extras to claim an unlikely three points for his side. CHEETAHS: M Jaer; W SmallSmith, B Janse van Rensburg, N Lee, R Maxwane; T Schoeman (L Fouche 72), T Meyer (S Venter 60); (1-8) O Nche (C Marais 71), J Dweba (J du Toit 60), A Coetzee; W Steenkamp (J Basson 60), JP du Preez; G Olivier, J Pokomela, N Jordaan (S Malan 71). Not used: G Janse van Vuuren, R Eksteen. Yellow card: C Marais (74). Scorers — Tries: Olivier, SmallSmith, Dweba, Du Toit, Maxwane. Cons: Schoeman (3), Fouche. Pens: Schoeman, Fouche. ULSTER: P Nelson; H Speight, D Cave (A Curtis 69), S McCloskey, A Kernohan; B Burns, D Shanahan (J Stewart 60); (1-8) E O’Sullivan (A Warwick 61), R Herring, W Herbst (T O’Toole 12); A O’Connor, K Treadwell (J Andrew 62); M Rea, S Reidy (N Timoney 25), M Coetzee (J Deysel 52). Not used: J McPhillips. Yellow card: A O’Connor (52). Scorers — Tries: Shanahan (2), Stewart (penalty try), Speight. Cons: Burns (3), Pens: Burns (2). Referee: B Whitehouse (Wales).