ULSTER 42 CHEETAHS 19 CHEETAHS NEVER WIN

South African newboys make losing start

NEW signing Jean Deysel starred and Ulster dished out a heavy first defeat to Cheetahs as they began life in the PRO14 at Kingspan Stadium.

It was a sensational game at times in

Belfast and Cheetahs scored three tries but Ulster answered that with six of their own.

Ulster had the bonus point secured and held a

27-14 lead by halftime with Tommy Bowe,

Alan O’connor, Stuart Mccloskey and Charles Piutau all scoring tries.

Tries from Clayton Blommetjies and Makazole Mapimpi kept Cheetahs in touch but Louis Ludik and Peter Nelson cancelled out Sergeal Petersen’s try for a big win.

With the start of the first crosshemisphere club competition both sides were looking to make a fast start and the two yellow cards that Cheetahs picked up halted their plans.

The visitors were fast and began well but new signing John Cooney slotted an early penalty to give Ulster the lead. That was cancelled out in the 16th minute when Blommetjies dotted down after brilliant work from Rosko Specman under a high ball. William Smallsmith scored the touchline conversion and Ulster were trailing 7-3 before they hit back.

Ludik created a gap in midfield and Bowe (inset) raced through for the try in the 19th minute. The extras were missed by Cooney and Small-smith scored another stunning touch-line conversion after Mapimpi went over in the 21st minute. The crucial moment of the first-half came in the 27th minute when Henco Venter pulled down a rolling maul and got yellow.

Cheetahs were down to 14-men for ten minutes and Ulster scored three tries to secure their bonus point before the break.

O’connor scored first in the 27th minute and then Mccloskey and Piutau followed suit as they held a 13 point half-time lead.

Ludik showed incredible strength to dot down 53 seconds after the break and despite the missed conversion they led 32-14.

Cheetahs scored their third try in the 50th minute when Petersen broke the cover but Cooney scored a penalty to settle things.

Johannes Coetzee’s yellow card in the 64th minute was a timely boost for Ulster and replacement Nelson touched down with five minutes remaining.

OVER HAULED Ulster’s flying winger Louis Ludik is stopped in his tracks by Cheetahs in unorthodox fashion