Kelly Haimona found his kicking boots in the second half as Zebre saw off 14-man Ulster to record their maiden win of the GUINNESS PRO12 season. Dario Chistolini grabbed the game’s only try – a handful were ruled out by the TMO throughout the course of the game – as Ulster never fully recovered from Declan Fitzpatrick’s early dismissal. Ian Humphreys came off the bench to slot two quick penalties but it was Haimona who ensured the hosts wouldn’t be caught, as Zebre avenged their 33-13 round two defeat in Belfast. A positive start from Ulster had the hosts under pressure, with Paddy Jackson pulling the strings from fly-half, but they were down to 14 men after just ten minutes – Fitzpatrick seeing red. That didn’t appear to deter the Irish side, Michael Allen and Stuart McCloskey combining soon after only for the latter to fall narrowly short of the line before Jackson sent a drop-goal attempt under the crossbar. Next it was Jackson and McCloskey’s turn to link-up but the Ireland fly-half knocked on – and Michael Heaney was guilty of the same offence from the back of a ruck just two minutes later. Jackson soon had another crack at the posts – this time from the tee – after Wiehahn Herbst earned a penalty halfway but he was unable to break the deadlock once again, sending his effort wide of the right-hand post. There was time before the break for Edoardo Padovani to try his luck from the tee but the Italian also missed the target and the first 40 minutes came to a close without a single point. Zebre flew out the blocks after the break and thought they were ahead through Leonardo Sarto, only for the TMO to rule out the winger’s try. However, they didn’t have to wait long for a second bite of the cherry, Chistolini crashing over five minutes into the half and Haimona adding the conversion. Humphreys, shortly after replacing Jackson at fly-half, made no mistake with a simple penalty after Darren Cave was not released by a Zebre tackler. And his second penalty moved Ulster to within one point of the hosts after 55 minutes, Zebre caught offside at the breakdown. Tommy Bowe soon looked to pierce the Italian defence but further poor handling saw the move break down, while Zebre were left frustrated at the other end when a wave of attack was well stifled. Both sides took turns to threaten one another but it was Zebre who were able to create some daylight, earning a penalty with a powerful scrum and allowing Haimona to land his second kick from the tee. Cave then saw a try ruled out by the TMO for obstruction, before a Haimona drop-goal further extended the hosts’ advantage. The visitors continued to bang down the door in the dying stages but Zebre held firm to end their four-match losing run in the competition.
