Ulster Rugby's challenging start to the United Rugby Championship continued as they fell to a 34-26 defeat against the Bulls in Pretoria, marking their fourth consecutive loss in the league. This match highlighted a struggle for Richie Murphy's side, who last experienced such a winless streak in the 2008-09 season.

Key Highlights:

• Bulls' Tries:
  • Marcell Coetzee (2)
  • Elrigh Louw
  • Johan Grobbelaar
• Ulster's Tries:
  • Chay Mullins (2)
  • David McCann
  • Stuart McCloskey
• Final Score: Bulls (21) 34, Ulster (7) 26

The match started poorly for Ulster, conceding an early penalty that allowed the Bulls to take the lead with a try from Coetzee just two minutes in. Despite a rocky start, Ulster managed to score their first points just before halftime through Mullins, trailing 21-7 at the break.

In a spirited second-half performance, Ulster closed the gap to just seven points following tries from McCann and a second from Mullins, especially after Coetzee received a yellow card. However, the Bulls capitalized on Ulster's momentum shift, and despite a late effort from McCloskey, Ulster could not secure the losing bonus point due to Bosch's penalty.

Next, Ulster faces the Stormers on 31 October, hoping to turn their fortunes around before the league takes a break for the Nations Championship.