Ulster 28-7 Bulls: A tale of control after the break
Ulster beat the Bulls 28-7 in a URC showdown staged in Belfast, hauling in a valuable bonus-point win that reflected a strong second-half performance. The teams were level at 7-7 at the interval, but Ulster tightened up after the break and punished a visitors’ outfit that found it hard to sustain pressure against a determined home pack.
First-half spark fades as Ulster edge ahead
The opening exchanges suggested a tight contest, with both sides weighing up the potential to seize control. Ulster struck first through a steady rhythm and pressure in key areas, yet Bulls kept themselves in the frame by contesting every breakdown and probing for opportunities in the wide channels. The momentum swung on a pair of moments as Ulster established a foothold and then allowed Bulls to respond, leaving the teams knotted at 7-7 at the break.
Second-half momentum: Ulster’s front-foot game
Richie Murphy’s men emerged from the interval with renewed intensity, taking control in the set-pieces and applying relentless pressure up front. The Ulster pack were assertive at the scrum and powerful in the maul, and their discipline allowed them to retain possession and manufacture scoring chances. The breakthrough finally came in the second period as Ulster moved the ball with intent and punished the Bulls whenever gaps appeared.
Key moments and tries
The hosts demonstrated clinical finishing with three well-taken tries that sealed the victory and the crucial bonus point. The opener arrived through a calculated strike in midfield, followed by a second score from a sequence that underscored Ulster’s physical dominance. The third try sealed the deal and rounded off a night of measured, efficient rugby from Ulster.
Captain’s perspective: front-foot ambition pays off
Ulster captain Iain Henderson spoke to Premier Sport after the match, reflecting on the performance: “Yeah, I thought we did really well. We really wanted to stick it to them up front and I think we did that for most of the game. We did well in our maul and out scrum, we did really well there, against a pack that usually dominates teams. We know what we can produce internally and we’ve really struggled to get that on the pitch. Whereas now we’re starting to see slightly more in training and we’re able to translate that into the 80 minutes.”
A hard-working night for Ulster’s defense and discipline
The match featured a resilient Ulster defence that repelled multiple Bulls attacks in the second half. Bulls’ late attempts to manufacture a consolation score were stymied by a combination of turnover pressure and smart kicking from Ulster. As the clock ticked down, Bulls found themselves running out of front-and-back-foot opportunities, allowing Ulster to see out the result with confidence.
What it means for Ulster going forward
Securing the bonus point adds both league points and a psychological edge for Ulster as they push through the URC fixtures. The performance also serves as a confidence booster for a squad looking to translate training-ground cohesion into consistent 80-minute rugby. With a sharper image of how to execute in the second half and an improved front row presence, Ulster can build on this win as they chase a compelling run-in to the season.
Post-match: Bulls’ brief search for late joy
For the Bulls, the result was a reminder of the narrow margins in high-level URC games. They crafted phases and threatened on a few breaks but found Ulster’s grip in the key moment of the second half enough to keep them at bay. The guardrail was in place: Ulster refused to concede momentum and kept the scoreboard ticking in their favour.
Final whistle: a well-earned Belfast night for Ulster
As the stadium settled, Ulster could reflect on a win that felt earned through physicality, discipline and the execution of a game plan that clicked after the interval. With the bonus point safely tucked away, the team will look to build on this performance in the upcoming URC rounds.
