It wasn’t to be for Ulster in Johannesburg’s altitude as chasing down a 15-0 deficit proved too much for Richie Murphy’s side in a frantic game played in 30-degree heat.
To their credit, though, Ulster did at least take a try bonus point from the game after charging back into the contest after half-time.
John Cooney, Aidan Morgan, Werner Kok and Corrie Barrett scored for Ulster – the latter two managing their first tries for the province – though only one was converted, which was costly as it denied them a potential losing bonus point.
The game started ominously when Ulster managed to fumble the kick-off and things didn’t improve as, following a scrum penalty against the province, the Lions launched their maul and broke blind through PJ Botha. Francke Horn carried and supplied winger Rabz Maxwane, who ran in to score on nine minutes.
The conversion was missed by Kade Wolhuter, then on the quarter of an hour mark he landed a penalty to put the hosts 8-0 ahead.
It should have been more four minutes later when a stunning 50/22 from Quan Horn deep in his own territory brought the Lions up to five metres from the Ulster line.
Though they mauled over, and Botha touched down, referee Sam Grove-White ruled the score out for an apparent offside infringement.
It was a reprieve for Murphy’s men but the pressure on them continued and, on the half hour, the lively Sanele Nohamba knocked on with a possible score on offer from an inside pass delivered by Rynhardt Jonker.
Another score for the Lions seemed inevitable and it came on 33 minutes from skipper Francke Horn.
A penalty at a previous lineout against Nick Timoney saw the Lions go for the corner and, from the following maul, the red shirts surged over for their second try of the game.
Wolhuter’s conversion from the touchline bisected the posts and Ulster now trailed 15-0.
Ulster now had to find something and to their credit they launched their most effective attack play of the half with Stuart McCloskey, Stewart Moore and Kieran Treadwell prominent.
From a penalty with the clock in red, they put the ball to the corner, threw to Alan O’Connor and, after several short-range carries with McCloskey and Timoney again showing up strongly, Cooney got the nudge to score in the 44th minute, which was so reminiscent of David Shanahan’s last gasp effort to win the previous game against Glasgow.
Cooney, however, missed the conversion but as the sides trooped off, Ulster were importantly on the scoreboard which now read 15-5 to the Lions.
Ulster charged out of the blocks on the resumption and after Ethan McIlroy made a half break in midfield, the province produced a stunning move, producing up to 17 phases, with Sean Reffell and Matty Rea showing up strongly, for Morgan to get the try.
Again, though, Cooney missed the conversion but now it was game on.
The response from the home side was swift and, after they were held up by Timoney, a penalty was still theirs and from the following lineout maul, the Lions trundled over again with replacement hooker Franco Marais earning them the five points.
Wolhuter was unable to convert but made no mistake shortly afterwards when Quan Horn shredded Ulster’s defence and, after linking with Erich Cronje, sub Henco van Wyk ran in under the sticks for the bonus point.
Wolhuter’s 56th minute penalty then brought up the 30 points.
But then Ulster struck back and after Doak – one of a raft of subs now on the field – kicked through after a Lions ball had gone loose, Kok beat Wolhuter in the chase for the touchdown. Doak, though, was unable to convert.
Then, with time running out, Kok made a try saving tackle on Cronje and shortly afterwards Ulster launched a final surge for points. Morgan was short of the line and then Barrett rumbled through for the try bonus which Doak converted.
Ulster were now looking as if they could take two points from this game but in the final minute, Wolhuter stepped some tired bodies and ran in for an unconverted try, the Lions’ fifth.
Emirates Lions: Q Horn; R Maxwane, E Cronje, R Jonker, T Mafura (H van Wyk 42); K Wolhuter, S Nohamba (N Steyn 65); M Naude (J Schoeman 43), PJ Botha (F Marais 43), A Ntlabakanye (C van Vuuren 66); R Nothnagel, D Landsberg; J Cairns (R du Plessis 67), R Venter (S Qoma 55), F Horn (R Schoeman 55).
Ulster: E McIlroy (M Lowry 66); W Kok, S Moore, S McCloskey, J Stockdale; A Morgan, J Cooney (N Doak 55); A Warwick (E O’Sullivan 52), J Andrew (J McCormick 52), T O’Toole (C Barrett 52); K Treadwell (I Henderson 52), A O’Connor (J McNabney 52); Matty Rea (D McCann 52), S Reffell, N Timoney.
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It comes from impressive fly-half Kade Wolhuter, who benefits from Erich Cronje once more surging down the left hand touchline to take play deep into the Ulster half, and the stand-off is able to jink inside Corrie Barrett to go over the line in the corner.
It’s a lovely swerving run from Mike Lowry that takes them into the 22 and sets up the chance, with Aidan Morgan almost finishing it off himself with a strong surge of his own, but the pair combine to take Ulster under the shadow of the posts and from there the forwards finish it off, with Barrett the man to dot down!
Ulster banging on the door but so far it just isn’t opening for them.
Jacob Stockdale then has a surge for the line that leaves them only inches short, but Quan Horn steals in for a fantastic turnover and then Ulster are adjudged to be off their feet going for the ball to try and recover it as near to the try line as possible and the penalty goes to the Lions that allows them to kick to the 10m line.
Good attacking position for Ulster now.
It might not be enough to spark a comeback but it does move Ulster one try away from a bonus point.
Doak did indeed come on for Cooney.
Nathan Doak, meanwhile, has come on. It was announced for Aidan Morgan but he’s definitely still on the pitch so it should actually be for John Cooney.
Unfortunately the fly-half is too slow to roll away and gives away the penalty which allows Kade Wolhuter to kick deep into Ulster territory again.
A high bomb from Aidan Morgan is caught by Quan Horn just outside his own 22 and he immediately sets off on a mazy run, evading all three of Stewart Moore, Matty Rea and John Cooney to streak clear and feed Erich Cronje before he is tackled by Aidan Morgan.
Cronje looks like he will take the ball the rest of the way but he slips, but fortunately he has Van Wyk steaming in behind him in support and the winger takes it under the posts.