Cape Town - Ulster have thrashed the hapless Southern Kings in their PRO14 encounter at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Friday evening.

The home side won 59-10 after leading 21-3 at half-time.

Ulster scored a whopping nine tries through a hat-trick by Craig Gilroy, a brace by Robert Lyttle with Stuart McCloskey, Johnny McPhillips, Kieran Treadwell and Darren Cave also crossing the try line.

Scrumhalf John Cooney kicked seven conversions to see his side to a comprehensive victory.

The Kings lone try came through Harlon Klaasen with Benhard Janse van Rensburg landing the conversion and Masixole Banda kicking a penalty in the first-half.

The South African franchise has struggled in their debut PRO14 season, having lost all 14 matches to date and sit at the bottom of Conference B.

Scorers:

Ulster

Tries: Craig Gilroy (3), Stuart McCloskey, Johnny McPhillips, Robert Lyttle (2), Kieran Treadwell, Darren Cave

Conversions: John Cooney (7)

Kings

Try: Harlon Klaasen

Conversion: Benhard Janse van Rensburg

Penalty: Masixole Banda

Teams:

Ulster

15 Charles Piutau, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 Luke Marshall, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Rob Lyttle, 10 Johnny McPhillips, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 Sean Reidy, 6 Matthew Rea, 5 Kieran Treadwell, 4 Alan O'Connor (captain), 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 John Andrew, 1 Andy Warwick

Substitutes: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Kyle McCall, 18 Rodney Ah You, 19 Matthew Dalton, 20 Chris Henry, 21 Jonny Stewart, 22 Darren Cave, 23 Louis Ludik

Kings

15 Masixole Banda, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Luzuko Vulindlu, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Martin Du Toit, 9 Rowan Gouws, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Martinus Kruger, 6 Andile Ntsila, 5 Bobby de Wee, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Michael Willemse (captain), 1 Schalk Ferreira

Substitutes: 16 Stephan Coetzee, 17 Johan Smith, 18 Dayan Van der Westhuizen, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Eital Bredenkamp, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Barend Janse van Rensburg, 23 Harlon Klaasen