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          United Rugby Championship 2018
          UlsterUlsterULS
          59
          10/02FT
          10
          Southern KingsSouthern KingsSTHK
          • Craig Gilroy(7', 39', 55')
          • Stuart McCloskey(18')
          • Johnny McPhillips(43')
          • Rob Lyttle(50', 59')
          • Kieran Treadwell(74')
          • Darren Cave(77')
          • John Cooney(8', 19', 40', 44', 51', 75', 78')
          • Harlon Klaasen(71')
          • Benhard Janse van Rensburg(71')
          • Masixole Banda(16')
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          Ulster dominate Kings as Joe Neville becomes first PRO14 female ref

          Oliver McVeigh/Sportsfile via Getty Images
          • PA Sport
          Multiple Authors
          Feb 11, 2018, 12:19 AM
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          Craig Gilroy raced in for a hat trick of tries to mark Ulster's first game since the departure of coach Les Kiss as the 59-10 destruction of the Kings saw Joy Neville become the first female referee in the PRO14.

          The home side scored nine tries, with two from Rob Lyttle, while Stuart McCloskey, Johnny McPhillips, Kieran Treadwell and Darren Cave also scored in Jono Gibbes's first game in charge.

          It was a historic night too, as Joy Neville made history by becoming the first female referee to take charge of a PRO14 game.

          The game was just six minutes old when, from a penalty put into the corner, Ulster moved the ball infield and Gilroy scored by the posts after taking a great line of John Cooney who then converted.

          But the Kings struck back with a Masixole Banda penalty on 14 minutes after Luke Marshall strayed offside.

          A Gilroy break then put McCloskey in space in the Kings' 22 and the centre smashed over with Cooney's conversion taking Ulster's lead to 14-3, just before the home side lost Charles Piutau to an arm injury.

          Gilroy then surged through for his second score on 38 minutes, which again came from a penalty, lineout maul and Cooney pass.

          Cooney's conversion made it 21-3 at half-time and that became 28-3 two minutes after the restart when McPhillips scored Ulster's bonus and Cooney converted.

          Lyttle crossed in the 49th minute and Cooney again converted, this time from the touchline to see Ulster lead 35-3.

          That became 40-3 five minutes later when Gilroy got his hat-trick via a break out begun by McPhillips with an assist from Cooney who this time missed the extras after the ball hit an upright.

          Lyttle then got his second after another break out though he then was assisted off injured just as Cooney missed the conversion.

          The Kings then ran the length of the field to score in the 70th minute with sub Harlon Klaasen getting the try and fellow sub Benhard Janse Van Rensburg converting.

          Ulster brought the 50 up three minutes later when Treadwell crossed with Cooney adding a great conversion.

          Cave then got over with four minutes left, Cooney converting again.

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          Standings

          United Rugby Championship
          RTeamGPPDP
          1BEN000
          2BUL000
          3CAR000
          4CON000
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          6EDI000
          7GLA000
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          16ZEB000
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