Ulster fell to a 35-22 loss to Lions in Johannesburg but could take some encouragement from a point on the road in the United Rugby Championship.
Lions dominated the first half, taking the lead 10 minutes in through Rabz Maxwane before Kade Wolhuter kicked a penalty to make it 8-0 five minutes later.
The hosts' powerful maul paid dividends again late in the first half as Francke Horn made it 15-0, but Ulster got on the board just before the break, with John Cooney touching down after the clock had turned red.
The visitors cut the deficit to 15-10 three minutes after the restart through Aidan Morgan but Lions responded quickly.
They put their maul to good use once again to allow Franco Marais to touch down, before Quan Horn broke four tackles to help set up Henco van Wyk moments later as they went 27-10 up.
Werner Kok’s first Ulster try cut the deficit on the hour mark and a late score from Corrie Barrett earned the bonus point, but Wolhuter had the final say for Lions at the death.
Lions : Quan Horn; Rabz Maxwane, Erich Cronje, Rynhardt Jonker, Tapiwa Mafura; Kade Wolhuter, Sanele Nohamba; Morgan Naude, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye; Reinard Nothnagel, Darrien Landsberg; Jarod Cairns, Ruan Venter, Francke Horn (capt).
Replacements: Franco Marais, Juan Schoeman, Conraad van Vuuren, Ruben Schoeman, Siba Qoma, Renzo du Plessis, Nico Steyn, Henco van Wyk.
Ulster: Ethan McIlroy; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, John Cooney; Andrew Warwick, John Andrew, Tom O'Toole; Kieran Treadwell, Alan O'Connor (capt); Matty Rea, Sean Reffell, Nick Timoney.
Replacements: James McCormick, Eric O’Sullivan, Corrie Barrett, Iain Henderson, James McNabney, Nathan Doak, Mike Lowry, David McCann.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (SRU)
