Ulster lose to Lions despite Baloucoune hat-trick

United Rugby Championship

Lions (17) 49

Tries: Kotze, Keyter, Venter, Du Plessis, Van Wyk, Van Vuuren 2 Cons: Smith 4 Pens: Smith 2

Ulster (19) 31

Tries: Baloucoune 3, Hume, McCann Cons: Doak 2, Flannery

Rob Baloucoune's superb hat-trick was not enough to stop Ulster falling to a first defeat of the season as the Lions hit seven tries to win a high-scoring United Rugby Championship encounter at Ellis Park.

Winger Baloucoune's first two tries and a fine James Hume score helped Ulster lead 19-17 at the break as they chased a fourth consecutive win.

And while Baloucoune scored his third to secure a try bonus point for the Irish province, the Lions went over five times in an impressive second-half display to romp to take the maximum five points.

Ulster end their South African tour with six points after last week's bonus-point success over the Sharks in Durban, but they go into the autumn break with their early-season momentum dashed after running out of steam in the Johannesburg heat and altitude.

More to follow.