Ulster Rugby vs Bath

LASTTIMEOUT ASMCLERMONTAUVERGNE29 ULSTER 13

perhaps felt a little disgruntled to run off at the interval only a single point ahead. An energetic start from the Ulstermen, with McCloskey in particular instrumental, got them to the Clermont five-metre line within 60 seconds, and with a penalty soon coming when the Frenchmen failed to roll away, Cooney settled any nerves with a close-range kick at goal. Camille Lopez soon levelled matters courtesy of a drop goal, but the parity was short-lived, as that man Cooney once again made the difference, touching down on nine minutes after carries and incredibly slick passing from McGrath, Reidy and Moore. The scrum-half converted his own score, but the lead was cut to four points at the end of the first quarter thanks to a Morgan Parra penalty. Ulster went on to enjoy good possession, however, and received a

A second half resurgence from ASM Clermont Auvergne emulated a fine first period from Ulster at the Stade Marcel-Michelin, with the defeat – Ulster’s first of the European campaign – making this weekend’s Round 6 showdown with Bath at the Kingspan Stadium all the more critical. One point ahead at the interval thanks to a try, conversion and penalty from John Cooney, Dan McFarland’s side could not contain a much-improved Clermont in the second half, with tries from Alivereti Raka and George Moala. Ulster had the better of the first half, enjoying 60% of possession and a similar percentage of territorial advantage – and

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