Ulster Rugby vs Scarlets

LASTTIMEOUT ULSTER 18 – 13ASMCLERMONTAUVERGNE

Ulster continued to dominate their prestigious rivals, who repeatedly contrived to surrender possession virtually as soon as they obtained it, and when Murphy rumbled over for the try on 17 minutes from a forceful rolling maul, it was no more than what Ulster’s fantastic start deserved. The Cooney conversion added to the visitors’ woe, as did a missed opportunity on 22 minutes when Alivereti Raka looked to have capitalised on a communication breakdown between Addison and Ludik to dot down in the corner, only for the TMO review to show a clear knock-on by the wing as he tried to bring a bobbling ball under control. Back in the driving seat, Ulster came close again on 25 minutes when an inch-perfect crossfield kick from Burns dropped into Stockdale’s clutches, and only a last-gasp tackle from George Moala dragged the next ball recipient Marshall into touch five metres from home.

Ulster’s second Heineken Champions Cup win from two put them in the Pool 3 driving seat, as tries from Jordi Murphy and John Cooney sent a below-par ASM Clermont Auvergne back to France with a losing bonus point that their performance scarcely deserved. Ulster now sit atop the Pool on eight points, two ahead of Clermont in advance of December’s home and away double-header with Quins. An immediate turnover as Nick Abendanon lost Cooney’s kick-off soon earned Ulster a penalty when Peceli Yato illegally collected at the breakdown, and the home scrum-half made no mistake from 30 metres to give his side an early advantage.

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