Ulster scored six tries but put in a far from five-star performance as they returned to the URC with an entertaining, bonus point 36-15 win in Belfast.

his was Ulster’s first URC action in just over a month when they won narrowly at Thomond Park against Munster.

Certainly, Tom Stewart, who scored a brace that day, picked up where he left off, dotting down inside five minutes from a maul.

Matty Rea then sprinted in under the posts after a nifty pass from James Hume set him free, Nathan Doak converting for a 12-0 lead inside ten minutes.

Flanker Sam Carter was sin-binned for repeated indiscipline and after Zebre’s Geronimio Prisciantelli got a penalty for 12-3, the visitor’s full-back, Lorenzo Pani scored in the corner to reward a spell of concerted pressure.

Being a man down seemed to wake the host from their mid-half slumber and before the interval, increased attacking pressure bore fruit.

First, prop Callum Reid surged over from close range and then on half time, Stewart Moore dummied his defender and glided in to seal the bonus point.  Doak converted both for a 26-8 score line at the break.

The scrum-half became Ulster’s second sin bin early in the second half for landing Zebre’s electric winger, Simone Gesi, on his head, albeit without much force.

Zebre attacked with gusto but were let down by their handling on numerous occasions.  Stewart punished their profligacy with his second brace in as many games, this try coming, again, from a rampant Ulster driving maul.

Stewart must have passed on some of his try-scoring knowledge to the man who replaced him as substitute hooker John Andrew scored Ulster’s sixth in the final quarter.

Yet it was the evergreen Italians who ended on a high, their replacement winger Erich Cronje stretching every sinew to score their second try.

It finished 36-15 but with Leinster at the RDS next Saturday, there is plenty for Dan McFarland to ponder.