Ulster impress as they power into Challenge Cup semifinals
MATCH REPORT: Zac Ward scored a brace of tries as Ulster booked their place in the Challenge Cup semifinals with a dominant 41-24 win over La Rochelle under stormy conditions at the Affidea Stadium.
Ulster got out to a blistering start from a well-worked early lineout as Tom Stewart found Ward, who slipped past the Rochelle defence to open the scoring.
Scrumhalf Nathan Doak – who finished the match with nine points- added a penalty before Diego Jurd clawed back one of his own for the visitors, and it was 15-3 after Tom O’Toole crossed the whitewash two minutes later.
Ward was then sent to the sin bin, but Ulster were nevertheless able to extend their advantage when Cormac Izuchukwu made it over the line with a 36th-minute try.
The home side responded again before the break as Judicael Cancoriet crossed over and the score stood at 24-10 at half-time.
Zac Ward, Bryn Ward, and James McCormick added to Ulster’s score after the break, when tries from Tolu Latu and Joel Sclavi were not enough to make a difference for La Rochelle.
Scorers:
For Ulster:
Tries: Ward 2, O’Toole, Izuchukwu, Ward, McCormick
Cons: Doak 3, Flannery
Pens: Doak
For Stade Rochelais:
Tries: Cancoriet, Latu, Sclavi
Cons: Jurd 3
Pens: Jurd
Teams
Ulster: 15 Jacob Stockdale, 14 Werner Kok, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Zac War, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave McCann, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (captain), 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Tom Stewart, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 James McCormick, 17 Sam Crean, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Harry Sheridan, 20 Bryn Ward, 21 Conor McKee, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Jude Postlethwaite
Stade Rochelais: 15 Ihaia West, 14 Ugo Pacome, 13 UJ Seuteni, 12 Adrien Seguret, 11 Hoani Bosmorin, 10 Diego Jurd, 9 Thomas Berjon (captain), 8 Lucas Andjisseramatchi, 7 Kirill Fraidnt, 6 Edouard Richer, 5 Aleksandre Kunteliw, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Karl Sorin, 2 Gabin Garault, 1 Louis Penverne
Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Christian Luaki, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 20 Nikolozi Sutidze, 21 Judicael Cancoriet, 22 Sacha Elissalde, 23 Nolhann Couillaud
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland) & Sara Cox (England)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
