European Challenge Cup
Ulster (26) 26
Tries: O’Toole, Baloucoune, McCloskey, Doak Cons: Murphy 3
Stade Francais (0) 19
Tries: Melikidze, Laloi, Peyresblanques Cons: Foursans-Bourdette 2
Ulster secured top spot in their Challenge Cup pool thanks to a nervy 26-19 win over Stade Francais in Belfast.
Although both sides had already qualified for the knockout stages of the second-tier European competition, they met with top place – and therefore guaranteed home advantage in the last 16 come April – at stake.
The hosts appeared to be cruising to a routine victory when they scored four tries in the opening half hour to race into a 26-0 lead.
Three tries in 20 second-half minutes, however, brought the Parisian visitors back within a converted score and ensured Ulster spent the final 15 minutes of the game holding on.
While the Irish province now know they will have home advantage in the last 16, and the quarter-finals should they advance that far, they will not know their knock-out opponents until after the conclusion of the remaining pool games on Sunday.
While top spot was on the line for both sides, the opening certainly suggested that Ulster were the more keenly motivated.
The visitors’ selection certainly hinted they were more focused on their return to Top 14 action and next weekend’s trip to Bordeaux-Begles and in contrast, beyond the injured Juarno Augustus and ill Angus Bell, this was arguably Ulster’s strongest side.
For the first half at least, the contrast in team selections was reflected on the scoreboard.
Playing some incisive attacking rugby despite the slick conditions, Ulster scored four times in the first half with a further score chalked off for a forward pass.
After an excellent burst from the enterprising Zac Ward, prop Tom O’Toole was first to crash over in the second minute of the game.
The returning Robert Baloucoune was next over, with the Irish wing looking sharp in what was his first game since the loss to Leinster six days before Christmas.
Baloucoune then thought he had set up a score for Nathan Doak, only for the try to be ruled out for a forward pass as Jack Murphy lined up his conversion attempt.
Ulster did not have to wait long for that third score with Stuart McCloskey put across the whitewash after 23 minutes by Zac Ward.
Ten minutes before the turn, the hosts wrapped up their four-try bonus with the Baloucoune to Doak connection this time counting on the scoreboard.
Few in the Affidea Stadium would have predicted then that Ulster would not score again.
The smattering of travelling fans were finally given something to cheer six minutes after the restart when Georgian prop Giorgi Melikidze, who had previously been held up over the line in the first half, crashed over from close range.
When Charles Laloi gathered a Louis Foursans-Bourdette cross-kick to score with 25 minutes remaining, Paul Gustard’s side were threatening an unlikely comeback.
Jacob Stockdale, beaten to the ball for Laloi’s try, thought he had swung the momentum back in Ulster’s favour, only for his try to be ruled out for obstruction in the build-up, while the same player got a hand up to deflect a pass and thwart a two-on-one.
But Stade Francais’ replacement hooker Lucas Peyresblanques broke through from the resulting line-out and after the conversion Ulster’s once comfortable lead was down to just seven points with 13 minutes remaining.
Ulster had the chance to move back into a two-score advantage when awarded a penalty on the 22 but instead went to the corner and threw crooked into the line-out.
That decision would not come back to haunt the side though, with Stade’s comeback attempt falling short when they knocked on on the edge of Ulster’s 22 to end the game.
Ulster: Stockdale; Baloucoune, Hume, McCloskey, Z Ward; Murphy, Doak; Crean, Stewart, O’Toole, Henderson (c), Sheridan, McCann, Timoney, Ward.
Replacements: Herring, O’Sullivan, Wilson, Dalton, Reffell, McKee, Flannery, Postlethwaite.
Stade Francais: Ibo; Laloi, Ward (c), Vili, Etien; Henry, Abadie; Iscaro, Garcia Albo, Melikidze; Azagoh, Botha; Scelzo, Hirigoyen, Tanga.
Replacements: Peyresblanques, Lux, Abramishvili, Turagacoke, Halaifonua, Motassi, Foursans-Bourdette, Ezeala.
Referee: A Leal (RFU)
