Ulster hit Racing for nine as Stockdale and Ward shine 

Ulster were something close to full strength for this Challenge Cup opener, but Racing almost entirely rotated their team from the previous weekend

Jacob Stockdale scored a brace of tries for Ulster against Racing 92. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Challenge Cup: Ulster 61 Racing 7 

Ulster annihilated a much-rotated Racing in Belfast to open their Challenge Cup campaign in emphatic fashion, scoring nine tries and racking up 61 points without reply.

Zac Ward and Jacob Stockdale both bagged braces after Ulster’s second half power surge took them clear of the faltering French.

After a day of dreadful weather, the rain had at least subsided by the time the sides faced off.

Ulster were something close to full strength for this opener, Racing having almost entirely rotated from the previous weekend

with a considerable cadre of inexperience in their team.

Seven minutes in though and the visitors were the ones to first visit the scoreboard, Antoine Gibert collected an intercept from a promising looking Ulster attack and ran in unopposed under the posts.

The out half converted his own effort and Racing were seven points up.

But Ulster battled back, they worked the ball to James Hume who gave the assist to Jacob Stockdale on 14 minutes. Jack Murphy converted and it was 7-7.

Gibert was then wide with a penalty shot on 26 minutes after Racing had again made significant inroads into Ulster’s half off a Wilfried Hulleu break.

Ulster looked under pressure and responded with a smartly taken score via their driving maul. A 33rd minute penalty to the corner saw Rob Herring score with Murphy converting again.

Then a vital tackle from Robert Baloucoune stopped Vladi Ashvetia making the corner with a try looking certain.

Ulster then got another break as from Herring’s crooked throw, Racing surged off the set-piece with Will Rowlands dotting down.

However, the TMO intervened and the score was ruled out for obstruction though Racing went straight to a penalty after Ulster had strayed offside.

The hosts only lifted the siege in the half’s final play when Nick Timoney secured a jackal penalty after Ulster had held out following tow tap and go penalties.

Ulster needed to begin the new half in a positive manner and Tom O’Toole scored on 42 minutes after a strong run by Ward.

This time Murphy was wide, but Ulster had the start they wanted.

Three minutes later they collected their bonus point when Tom Stewart, on at half-time for Herring, powered through three tacklers. Murphy added the extras and Ulster now led 26-7.

Flanker Fabien Sanconnie was then yellow carded and just before he returned, Ulster had their fifth try, Scott Wilson the scorer – he had come on with debutant Angus Bell – and Murphy adding his fourth conversion.

Try number six was scored by Jake Flannery, the assist provided by Stewart Moore with Murphy, once again, bisecting the posts to bring up the 40 points.

Seven more points followed, Ward diving over in the corner, Murphy converting.

They got all the way to 61, late scores from Stockdale and Ward further emphasising their dominance.

ULSTER: J Stockdale, R Baloucoune, J Hume, J Postlethwaite, Z Ward, J Murphy, N Doak, S Crean, R Herring, T O'Toole, H Sheridan, C Irvine, D McCann, N Timoney (capt), J Augustus 

Replacements: T Stewart for Herring 40mins, A Bell for Crean 53mins, S Wilson for O’Toole 53mins, J Hopes for Augustus 60mins, B Ward for Timoney 53mins, C McKee for Doak 63mins, J Flannery for Baloucoune 53mins, S Moore for Postlethwaite 24mins.

RACING 92: G Prisciantelli, N Donguy, S James, V Ashvetia, W Hulleu, A Gibert, K Labarbe, E-J Njocke, Y Basse, G Kharaishvili, J Kpoku, W Rowlands (capt), F Sanconnie, N Zinzen, L Tagitagivalu 

Replacements: D Escobar for Basse 46mins, H Coetzee for Njocke 53mins, L Leota for Kharaishvili 53mins, M Baudonne for mins, J Hill for mins, A Albuisson for Tagitagivalu 69mins, L Carbonneau for Labarbe 55mins, A Espeut for James 69mins.

Referee: B Breakspear (Wales)