Ulster sweep Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle aside to reach Challenge Cup semi-finals
SEMIS BOUND: Ulster's Zac Ward scores a try during the Betfred Challenge Cup match at Affidea Stadium. Pic: Brian Lawless/PA Wire.
Ulster are in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals after expectedly sweeping La Rochelle aside in a six-try triumph all the more impressive as it was played in absolutely foul conditions in Belfast.
Zac Ward scored twice while Tom O’Toole, Cormac Izuchukwu, Bryn Ward and James McCormick also added to Ulster’s total. Nathan Doak kicked three conversions and was Player of the Match on a such a challenging night.
Ulster will now play the winners between Sunday’s semi-final between Benetton Rugby and Exeter Chiefs and might well bag another home tie should the Premiership side prevail.
With just four minutes gone, Zac Ward surged over from a lineout move and dotted down near the sticks. Nathan Doak converted and it was 7-0 to Ulster.
Ulster then moved it on to 10-0 on nine minutes, Doak hammering a penalty through the posts.
Then on 22 minutes La Rochelle finally got off the mark, Diego Jurd landing a long-range penalty with considerable wind assistance.
Two minutes later and with James Hume catching Jurd loitering behind his line, Ulster got the put-in and after Juarno Augustus launched himself, Tom O’Toole barged through to score.
Doak converted but then Ulster’s momentum appeared to be stalled when Zac Ward was yellow carded for a tip tackle. However, the province weren’t for surrendering any cheap points and, on the contrary, added seven, Cormac Izuchukwu getting over from another close-in drive and Doak converting.
Ulster now led 24-3 though back to 15 again, the half ended with Judicael Cancoriet scoring in the 41st minute. Jurd converted and La Rochelle trailed 24-10 at the halfway point, giving them a glimmer of hope with the weather behind them for the second 40 minutes.
Ulster grabbed the initiative though, Jack Murphy’s cross-kicking for Zac Ward’s second try.
Doak missed from the touchline but Ulster now led 29-10.
La Rochelle got their second touchdown when replacement Tolu Latu sprinted clear from a breakdown with Jurd converted.
Ulster roared back, Zac Ward carrying hard and supplying brother Bryn who smashed through and matched his brother by getting his own try which went unconverted.
La Rochelle tried again but a great wrap-up over the line by Harry Sheridan and Tom Stewart then prevented Joel Sclavi from scoring.
Then in the closing minutes James McCormick crossed from a lineout maul, Jake Flannery kicking an excellent conversion to bring up 41 points for the home team.
Even though the game was well and truly in the bag, La Rochelle had the final say though when Joel Sclavi scored, Jurd converting as the final whistle mercifully came for both players and supporters.
J Stockdale; W Kok, J Hume, S McCloskey, Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak; A Bell, T Stewart, T O'Toole; I Henderson (capt), C Izuchukwu; D McCann, N Timoney, J Augustus.
J McCormick for Stewart (71), S Crean for Bell (58), S Wilson for O’Toole (58), H Sheridan for Augustus (58), B Ward for Timoney (41), C McKee for Doak (73), J Flannery for Murphy (71), J Postlethwaite for Hume (66).
I West; U Pacome, UJ Seuteni, A Seguret, H Bosmorin; D Jurd, T Berjon (capt); L Penverne, G Garault, K Sorin; T Lavault, A Kuntelia; E Richer, J Cancoriet, L Andjisseramatchi.
T Latu for Garault (41), C Luaki for Penverne (41), J Sclavi for Sorin (42), A Kaddouri for Kuntelia (46), N Sutidze for Andjisseramatchi (39), O Jegou for Cancoriet (66), S Elissalde for Berjon (67), N Couillaud for Pacome (64).
Referee: H Davidson (Scotland).
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