Ulster's European Challenge Cup campaign over with Clermont blues

In the 53-14 defeat, Ulster fortuitously took the lead on 12 minutes after a sustained period of pressure on the Clermont line when the visitors were awarded a penalty. Ulster opted for a tap after three phases, a Clermont defender ripped the ball in the tackle but Nick Timoney pounded and stretched out to reach over the whitewash for a try with John Cooney adding the conversion.

Clermont responded six minutes later as from a line out in the Ulster 22 scrum half Baptiste Jauneau made a sniping break down the blindside, the ball was quickly recycled, Pita-Gus Sowakula produced a great tip pass to put his back row colleague Peceli Yato clear and the flanker sprinted over. Out half Anthony Belleau’s conversion tied the scores.

Clermont took the lead on 28 minutes with a Belleau penalty after Tom O’Toole was punished for taking a man out off the ball.

Belleau increased the French team’s lead with his second penalty of the contest on 32 minutes after Rob Baloucoune was adjudged to have tripped Alivereti Raka as the French winger made a touchline break.

Clermont increased their lead two minutes before the break with their second try.

Ulster failed to deal with a kick and conceded a penalty which Belleau nudged into the 22.

From the lineout, Clermont produced quality ball, centre Léon Darricarrere drove for the line, he was stopped short but Sowakula was on hand to crash over from short range with Belleau converting.

Ulster got back in the game with the clock in the red at the end of the first half.

From a penalty they went to the corner, after a few phases Timoney barrelled over and was adjudged to have grounded the ball, Cooney’s conversion cut Clermont’s lead to 20-14 at the interval.

Ulster conceded a penalty two minutes after the restart with Timoney punished for not rolling away, but Belleau was off target with the kick.

However, it was a temporary reprieve for Ulster as Clermont got their third try 90 seconds later.

Out of nothing, Belleau started a counterattack in his own half and fed Raka, the winger offloaded to Alex Newsome then the Australia full back did well to take the pass before turning on the after-burners to sprint clear and touch down, with his out half adding the extras.

Clermont’s fourth try arrived on the hour when the home side went to the corner from a penalty, the lineout was secured and Ulster had no answer to a powerful driving maul as Sowakula was propelled over for his second try. Belleau converted.

Replacement lock Rob Simmonds went over for Clermont three minutes later, Ulster lost a lineout in their own 22, a couple of quick slick passes put the Wallaby second row over from close range and Belleau added the extra two points.

Clermont opened up the Ulster defence again on 69 minutes. From and attacking scrum in the 22, Sebastien Bezy made a sniping break, the ball was quickly recycled and Yato powered over for his second try. Bautista Delguy converted.

Clermont finished the game with another sublime score, they ran back a goal line drop out, some more great slick handing put Joris Jurand over in the corner for an unconverted try.

CLERMONT: A Newsome; B Delguy, L Darricarrere, J Heriteau, A Raka; A Belleau, B Jauneau (captain); G Beria, Y Beheregaray, R Slimani’ T Lanen, T Lavanini; K Tixeront, P Yato, P-G Sowakula.

Replacements: E Fourcade for Beheregaray 50 mins, D-B Biziwu for Beria 54 mins, G Dzmanashvili for Slimani 54 mins, R Simmons for Lanen 54 mins, A Fischer for Yato 49 mins, S Bezy for Jauneau 53 mins, T Giral for Belleau 67 mins, J Jurand for Raka 67 mins.

ULSTER: S Moore; R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, M Lowry; N Doak, J Cooney; S Kitshoff, R Herring, T O’Toole, A O’Connor, I Henderson (captain); H Sheridan, David McCann, N Timoney.

Replacements: T Stewart for Herring 39 mins, A Warwick for Kitshoff 55 mins, S Wilson for O’Toole 50 mins, C Izuchukwu, D Ewers for Henderson 41 mins, J Flannery, E McIlroy for Moore 6 mins, Marcus Rea for Timoney 54 mins.

Referee: C.Ridley (England).