Ulster head into Champions Cup knockout stages as one of the top seeds after a bonus-point win vs Clermont at Kingspan Stadium; Hooker Herring scored twice following mauls, full-back Lowry scored again, No 8 Vermeulen notched his first for the club, while wing Baloucoune scored too
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 22/01/22 7:28pm
Ulster secured their place as one of the top seeds in the Heineken Champions Cup knockouts courtesy of an exciting 34-31 bonus-point victory over Clermont Auvergne in Belfast.
The hosts scored five tries through hooker Rob Herring (two), stirring full-back Mike Lowry – in the week he earned his maiden Six Nations call-up – No 8 Duane Vermeulen and wing Rob Baloucoune.
20-year-old scrum-half Nathan Doak – who only made his European Cup debut last week vs Northampton – added two conversions and a penalty in the win, which leaves Ulster assured of second in Pool A, and thus guaranteed home advantage in the Round of 16 second leg and quarter-finals, should they get there.
Clermont’s points came via the boot of scrum-half Morgan Parra, who kicked four penalties, and late Jacobus Van Tonder, Alivereti Raka and Judicael Cancoriet tries as they threatened the most unlikely of comebacks from 23 points behind.
A first-half yellow card to Raka – their greatest threat on the day – for repeated team infringements ultimately proved fatal, however, with Ulster scoring 17 points during his spell off the pitch.
More to follow…