Ulster demolish Exeter Chiefs to make first European final in 14 years 

Ulster will play in the EPCR Challenge Cup showpiece event after they produced a superb performance to overcome Exeter Chiefs 29-12 at the Affidea Stadium.

It will be the Irish province’s first continental final since 2012 – a 42-14 defeat to Leinster in the Champions Cup – as they proved too strong for the Englishmen in Belfast.

While the Chiefs started brightly by dominating possession, the hosts were by far the more clinical and touched down four times in total, with three of those coming in an outstanding second half.

Juarno Augustus and Ross Vintcent traded tries in the opening period, but a Nathan Doak penalty gave the Ulstermen a 10-7 advantage at the break, and they never looked back.

Jack Murphy, Dave McCann and Tom Stewart all went over after the interval to send them to Bilbao later this month, where they will play either Montpellier or the Dragons in the Challenge Cup final.

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Both these sides have enjoyed improved seasons and were desperate to make a continental showpiece, but it was Ulster who deservedly reached it despite Exeter doing the early running.

Rob Baxter’s men enjoyed the majority of the possession, going through the phases as they’ve become renowned for over the years, but the hosts’ defence held firm.

The Chiefs were struggling to breach the opposition rearguard and when Ulster got their opportunity to attack, they looked the more potent. And so it proved.

Stuart McCloskey, as he has done for both province and country all campaign, was a presence with ball in hand, while hooker Tom Stewart tested the Englishmen in the wide channels.

They were making ground at will and thought they had scored when Mike Lowry crossed the whitewash, but it was ruled out due to a neck roll.

The Irish province did eventually cross the whitewash, however, when Augustus touched down from close range.

Exeter were missing the punch that Greg Fisilau gives them from number eight. That was in contrast to the home side, with Augustus, Cormac Izuchukwu, Iain Henderson, as well as backs McCloskey and Jude Postlethwaite, offering carrying threats, but the visitors did manage to get back on level terms.

Jacob Stockdale was sin-binned for a nasty-looking high shot on Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, which ended the England wing’s game, and from the resultant attack Vintcent went over to make it 7-7.

Ulster managed that yellow card period well, though, and went into the break ahead thanks to a penalty from Doak.

Richie Murphy’s men took that momentum into the second period and it was his son, Jack, who extended their buffer. Once again, the hard yards were done by the forwards, who sent the Chiefs into reverse, before some dexterity out wide saw the fly-half touch down.

The hosts were very much in control and while there was the odd moment of quality from Exeter, with Campbell Ridl and Harvey Skinner both threatening the defence, it was only brief.

Ulster were certainly the more effective with ball in hand and another flowing move enabled Ethan McIlroy to sprint down the right. Although he was brought down short of the line, McCann was on hand to cross the whitewash for the try, which effectively confirmed their final place.

They then added another through Stewart and, although Exeter had the final word through Ridl, it was very much the Irishmen’s day.

Line Ups

Ulster: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Zac Ward, 13 Jude Postlethwaite, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Sam Crean
Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Tom McAllister, 19 Charlie Irvine, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Ethan McIlroy

Exeter: 15 Ben Hammersley, 14 Campbell Ridl, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 10 Harvey Skinner, 9 Steve Varney, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Christ Tshiunza, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Andrea Zambonin, 4 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 3 Bachuki Tchumbadze, 2 Max Norey, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Ethan Burger, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Rus Tuima, 20 Finn Worley-Brady, 21 Tom Cairns, 22 Will Haydon-Wood, 23 Nick Lilley

Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Assistant Referees: Luc Ramos (Fra), Craig Evans (Wal)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)

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