URC round 3: Ulster snatch a draw, Edinburgh alone at the top

Edinburgh have 14 points, one more than Glasgow, who beat Connacht on Friday (36-19).

The Bulls (11 points) edge the Stormers on points difference for third place. At the bottom, Zebre are still without a win and have one point.

Ulster come back from 21 points down

Munster looked to have done the hard work in Belfast. Alex Kendellen (8′, 38′), Marnus van der Merwe (14′) and Dan Kelly (30′) scored four tries before the break, three converted by JJ Hanrahan, to lead 26-5. Ulster did not concede another point in the second half. Jacob Stockdale, who had already scored Ulster’s first try, added a second (52′), then Dave McCann (67′) and Stuart McCloskey (76′) went over. Jack Murphy converted all three, including the equaliser in the 77th minute. With four tries each, both sides take a bonus point. Ulster are still winless: two draws and a defeat.

Round 3 results

Edinburgh, three from three

Matt Currie opened the scoring in Parma, and Edinburgh scored their fourth try, for the bonus point, in the final minute. James Grayson kicked three conversions and a penalty. According to RugbyPass, Edinburgh had not won their first three league games since 2015.

Nine tries for the Bulls

In the South African derby in Pretoria, the Bulls outscored the Lions by nine tries to two, including two from Cameron Hanekom. Handre Pollard kicked three late conversions. In Cape Town, the Stormers beat the Sharks 39-22, helped by two tries from Hacjivah Dayimani, while the visitors received two yellow cards in six minutes before the break.

Leinster off the mark

Beaten in the first two rounds, Leinster dominated Cardiff 29-5 in Dublin, scoring five tries including two from Jimmy O’Brien. Mason Grady scored Cardiff’s only try.

Scarlets turn it round against Benetton

Trailing 7-21 at the break after tries from Siua Maile, Onisi Ratave and Michele Lamaro, the Scarlets came back through Blair Murray and two tries from Ellis Mee. Louis Lynagh put Benetton back in front (24-26, 72′), before Sam Costelow kicked the winning penalty in the 78th minute (27-26). In Newport, the Ospreys won 38-31 at the Dragons with six tries, including two each for Sam Parry and Morgan Morris.