Ulster they failed because they were defeated 34-26 Bulls despite an excellent fight in theirs United Rugby Championship conflict in Pretoria.
The South African side raced into a 21-0 lead with two tries from former Ulster striker Marcello Coetzee either side of a try from Elrigh Louw.
Ulster responded at half-time through Chay Mullins and David McCann further reduced the arrears after the restart.
Coetzee was then sin-binned to give Ulster further encouragement, but Handre Pollard’s penalty halted their momentum.
Mullins’ second try brought Ireland within striking distance but Johan Grobbelaar crossed from close range to all but make the game safe.
Ulster were given a late hope when Stuart McCloskey forced his way through, but Curwin Bosch’s last-minute penalty sealed victory for the home side.
Elsewhere, center Joe Roberts’ hat-trick was not enough Scarlets as they conceded two late tries in a 52-40 defeat Stormers in Cape Town.
Roberts kicked in the first half and crossed twice in the second as the Scarlets fought back from a 33-14 half-time deficit to level the match at 40-40, but the Stormers’ fly-half substitute.
The Scarlets were reduced to 14 men early on when scruffy John McKee was booked and a pair of tries from Stormers Zachary Porthen and
Hasseim Pead put the hosts 12-0 up before Roberts slotted in to convert the score.
A brilliant finish from wing Ioan Jones kept the Scarlets in touch at 19-14 after Stormers prop Ntuthuko Mchunu went over for his side’s third try and two more touch downs before breaks from home pair Seabelo Senatla and Deon Fourie gave them a commanding lead at half-time.
The Scarlets rallied after the break with two quick tries from winger Macs Page
and after Oliver Read crossed for the Stormers’ sixth try, further touchdowns from Scarlets skipper Josh Macleod and Roberts, both converted by Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, brought the visitors to 40-40.
But the Stormers regained the lead with seven minutes remaining when Ahmed raced under the posts for his first touch to seal victory for the South African side with his second converted try in the 79th minute.
Vodacom Bulls: Luan Giliomee, Sebastian de Klerk, Sango Xamlashe, Harold Vorster, Cheswill Jooste, Handre Pollard, Paul de Wet; Gerhard Steenekamp, Johan Grobbelaar, Francois Klopper, Ruan Vermaak, Reinhardt Ludwig, Marcell Coetzee (CAPT), Hanro Liebenberg, Elrigh Louw
Replacements: Marco van Staden, Alu Tshakweni, Khutha Mchunu, Cobus Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, Zak Burger, Curwin Bosch, Dylan Maart
Ulster Rugby: Jacob Stockdale, Chay Mullins, Jamie Benson, Stuart McCloskey, Michael Lowry, Jack Murphy, Nathan Doak; Tom O’Toole, Tom Stewart (CAPT), Keynan Knox, Ben Donnell, Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Juarno Augustus
Replacements: Henry Walker, Eric O’Sullivan, Scott Wilson, Eli Snyman, James McNabney, Matthew Devine, Jake Flannery, James McKillop
DHL Stormers: Warrick Gelant, Seabelo Senatla, Wandisile Simelane, Markus Muller, Leolin Zas, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Haashim Pead; Ntuthuko Mchunu, André-Hugo Venter, Zachary Porthen, Riley Norton, Connor Evans, Paul de Villiers (CAPT), Evan Roos, Hacjivah Dayimani
Replacements: Lukhanyo Vokozela, Olly Reid, Neethling Fouché, Adré Smith, JD Schickerling, Deon Fourie, Cobus Reinach, Yaqeen Ahmed
crimson: Ioan Nicholas, Ioan Jones, Joe Roberts, Joe Hawkins, Macs Page, Carwyn Leggatt-Jones, Dane Blacker; Kemsley Mathias, John McKee, Harri O’Connor, Alex Groves, Sam Lousi, Taine Plumtree, Josh Macleod (CAPT), Fletcher Anderson
Replacements: George Roberts, Sam O’Connor, Gabe Hawley, Harvey Cuckson, Dan Davis, Archie Hughes, Gareth Anscombe, Isaac Murray-Macgregor
