Herring’s late try completes Ulster recovery

SECOND-HALF tries from Sean Reidy and Rob Herring rescued Ulster after a poor opening period and returns them to second place in Conference B.

Dominated entirely in the first half, Dan McFarland’s side turned the table to grind down the weakened Italians who were seeking a second ever win over Ulster.

Benetton were without 13 players due to Italian duty, but had the home side taken all of their scoring chances they could have had a bonus point secured by half-time.

Three minutes in the opening try arrived when Ulster’s lineout defence collapsed and hooker Hame Faiva crashed over.

The Ulster defence was stronger after that to deny Benetton another mauled try, while Ratuva Tavuyara was held up over the tryline, before a brilliant strip tackle from James Hume in his first start denied Tommaso Benvenuti as he tried to touch the ball down.

Ulster made it 7-3 when Burns drilled over a long range penalty, and after half-time they improved hugely. Stuart McCloskey was stopped just short but Sean Reidy crashed over for the try after 44 minutes.

McCloskey had a try chalked off when he lost control when trying to score, but Michele Lamaro was sin-binned moments later for collapsing a maul, and Herring scored from the following maul.

Tommy Allan added a penalty for Benetton, but they had to settle for a losing bonus point.