Zebre 13
Ulster 6
ULSTER TIGHTHEAD DECLAN Fitzpatrick was sent off after 11 minutes of today’s Pro12 defeat away to Zebre.
The Ireland international clearly swung, and connected, a punch on opposition hooker Andrea Manici as he lay on the ground after a maul collapsed forcing referee Peter Fitzgibbon to show a straight red card.
The one-man disadvantage did not make Ulster’s task any easier. And so they were unable to put a score on the Italians in the opening 40 minutes as the sides went in level at 0 – 0.
All the scoring came after the break as the home side built pressure and found their reward with prop Dario Chistolini barging through Paddy Jackson to dot down the game’s only awarded try.
Replacement Ian Humphreys kicked Ulster back into the game with two penalties. And with nine minutes remaining the northern province looked to have snatched the lead, but Darren Cave’s try from a superb no-look Craig Gilroy pass was ruled out as the TMO adjudged Tommy Bowe to have obstructed a tackler.
Zebre extended their lead before the finish, Kelly Haimona adding a drop-goal to his conversion and penalty to assure the Italians of all four points.
