On Saturday evening Racing 92 were the visitors to Kingspan Stadium for the European Champions Cup Pool 2 game against Ulster. Earlier in the day I ran in to them at Shaw’s Bridge, where they had a pre-game leg stretcher. After Ulster’s capitulation in the closing minutes, against Bath last week, Ulster need a performance in front of a large but not sell-out crowd.
Ulster started as they meant to go on. A maul, from a tap penalty saw Nick Timoney get the touch down. John Cooney‘s conversion had Ulster 7-0 up in 4 minutes.
After Racing had a try chalked out for crossing, quick ball, from a maul, saw Stuart McCloskey spin out of tackle to score mid-way out on the left. Cooney added the points and Ulster were 14-0 up after 24 minutes.
Racing responded minutes later, when Nolann Le Garrec squeezed in on the left corner for 5-14.
In the closing moments of the 1st half Matty Rea was on the end of a John Hume pass to go over in the right corner. Cooney converted for Ulster to go in 21-5 up at halftime.
On 45 minutes Ulster created another maul from a tap penalty and Timoney was on hand to touch down. Cooney’s conversion had Ulster up 28-5.
With the crowd in full voice Ulster continued to press but it was Racing who scored next, when Jannick Tarrit scored from a ruck to bring it back to 10-28.
Tarrit added another score, on 65 minutes, before Cooney landed a short range penalty to put Ulster out to 31-15.
Ulster’s control of the ball was secure in the last few minutes, as they ran the clock down for another famous bonus point win at the Kingspan stadium.
