Investec European Champions Cup round five
Ulster 52-24 Exeter Chiefs
On first reflection of the final score, it looks like Ulster cruised home to a straight forward win. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Ulster fans were fearing the worst after the opening quarter as the visitors raced into a twelve-point lead.
But helped by a Cormac Izuchukwu hattrick and a brace from David McCann, Ulster ran in eight tries in what was in the end, a convincing and deserving win.
The win means that Ulster will be playing in European competition in April, but in which tournament remains to be seen.
All eyes will turn to the Bordeaux-Bégles Sharks game tomorrow with all Ulster fans hoping for a home win twenty-nine points which will mean Ulster will remain in the premier competition. Anything else will see Ulster drop to the Challenge cup.
Having made 12 changes from last weeks defeat to Bordeaux-Bégles, Rob Baxter’s underdogs stunned Ravenhill with a try after just two minutes.
Will Haydon-Wood’s cross field kick was gathered by Ben Hammersley and despite being tackled by Mike Lowry, he still manged to off-load to Paul Brown-Bampoe who had the easy task of crossing the whitewash from close range.
Haydon-Wood added the conversion to compliment the Chiefs great start. And the great start got even better fifteen minutes later.
Exeter Number 8 Ross Vintcent picked up the ball from the back of a Chiefs ruck 10 metres inside his own half and sprinted clear to touchdown in the corner after leaving Rob Lyttle and Stewart Moore in his wake.
Ravenhill was stunned into silence and the players were clearly rattled as more mistakes crept into their game as the minutes ticked by.
Trailing by 12 points, there was a worry that Ulster may have been suffering a hangover from last weeks mauling at the hands of the Leicester Tigers but within ten minutes Ulster had managed to draw themselves level.
Dominant play upfront saw tries from Izuchukwu and McCann and after a nervous opening quarter it was expected that Ulster would kick on and take control. But visitors had other ideas.
Two minutes after being reeled in Exeter were back in front.
Will Rigg’s kick in behind the Ulster defence caused panic, and when it was recycled out wide, lock Rus Tuima went over for Exeter’s third try.
But in a helter-skelter opening period, there was to be one further twist before the break.
Out of nowhere Nick Timoney sent the Exeter defence to the shops with a delightful side step and sprinted clear from forty metres to level the tie at 17-17.
Ulster took the lead for the first time eight minutes into the second half and again they had their forwards to thanks for it.
After winning a scrum penalty, Jack Murphy kicked deep into the Exeter ‘22′ and from the lineout the Ulster pack stormed for the Exeter line which allowed Herring to get the vital touchdown. Doak’s conversion opened up a seven-point lead.
They frantic pace of the game eventually dropped and with it, so did Exeter’s brave challenge. But John Cooney’s 57th minute introduction reenergised the Ulster attack as the homeside chased their first European win of the season.
The outstretched arm of Izuchukwu secured try number five and two minutes later came try number six when centre Ben Carson showed the Exeter defence a clean pair of heels to run home from his own half.
Ulster, a lot more relaxed from their first half showing were clearly enjoying themselves now.
A Callum Reid break paved the way for McCann to claim a second try of the night before Izuchukwu broke through to claim a first ever hattrick a few minutes later.
Cooney kicked his third conversion of the night as Ulster smashed past the half century mark.
Zac Wimbush’s last-minute try ensured that the Exeter Chiefs don’t finish on zero points while Ulster face a nervous wait over the weekend to see where their European fate lays.