ULSTER BEAT MONTPELLIER 27-16 in their Heineken Cup Pool 5 clash thanks to converted tries from Robbie Diack, Ruan Pienaar and John Afoa.
Out-half Paddy Jackson left the goal-kicking duties to Pienaar but made a big impact on the game. With 24 minutes on the clock, Jackson found blindside flanker Robbie Diack on the left wing with a perfectly weighted cross-field kick.
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Diack was up against centre Anthony Tuitavake and showed great strength to hold to centre off and dive over for the score.
Pienaar profited from some indecision in the Montpellier defence on 29 minutes but the French side hit back through Tchale Watchou. Penalties were traded and Mark Anscombe’s men led 17-13 at the break.
Pienaar stretched Ulster’s lead on 42 minutes and a fortunate bounce paid dividends for charging prop Afoa as he gathered the ball just inside the Montpellier 22 and steamed over. Pienaar was so close to clinching the bonus point but a video official ruled he had not grounded what would have been a fourth try.
Ulster maintained their 100% record in Pool 5 but will rue missing the chance of the extra point ahead of next weekend’s clash with Leicester Tigers.
Paddy Jackson stars but Ulster fall short of bonus point
ULSTER BEAT MONTPELLIER 27-16 in their Heineken Cup Pool 5 clash thanks to converted tries from Robbie Diack, Ruan Pienaar and John Afoa.
Out-half Paddy Jackson left the goal-kicking duties to Pienaar but made a big impact on the game. With 24 minutes on the clock, Jackson found blindside flanker Robbie Diack on the left wing with a perfectly weighted cross-field kick.
Diack was up against centre Anthony Tuitavake and showed great strength to hold to centre off and dive over for the score.
Pienaar profited from some indecision in the Montpellier defence on 29 minutes but the French side hit back through Tchale Watchou. Penalties were traded and Mark Anscombe’s men led 17-13 at the break.
Pienaar stretched Ulster’s lead on 42 minutes and a fortunate bounce paid dividends for charging prop Afoa as he gathered the ball just inside the Montpellier 22 and steamed over. Pienaar was so close to clinching the bonus point but a video official ruled he had not grounded what would have been a fourth try.
Ulster maintained their 100% record in Pool 5 but will rue missing the chance of the extra point ahead of next weekend’s clash with Leicester Tigers.
As it happened: Ulster v Montpellier, Heineken Cup
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European Rugby Champions Cup crossfield on a dime Paddy Jackson pinpoint Robbie Diack Montpellier try Ulster