Challenge Cup: Ulster hammer Racing to begin in style

Ulster ran riot in the second half to get their Challenge Cup campaign off to the best possible start in Belfast this evening.

Despite going behind early, Richie Murphy's side scored 61 unanswered points - including SEVEN second half tries - to hammer hapless Racing 92.

Jacob Stockdale and Zac Ward both grabbed doubles, while Ulster were able to empty the bench for more try scores and give a debut to Australian Angus Bell.

Ulster thought they had opened the scoring after just five minutes when James Hume got down in the left hand corner, but, after a TMO check, the try was ruled out for a knock on

Then just three minutes later, it was the visitors who capitalised to race clear and grab the first try of the game.

Antoine Gibert intercepted a Hume pass midway inside his own half to burst clear and sprint into the acres of space afforded to him before touching down underneath the post, leaving an easy conversion for the same player.

However, the hosts still had the bulk of the possession and after a concerted period of pressure, they eventually created an opening to level proceedings.

A super quick offload from Hume on the right set Jacob Stockdale free to dart in and score, before Jack Murphy converted.

Despite the impressive Jude Postlethwaite having to leave the field for a head injury assessment – to be replaced by Stewart Moore – Ulster took the lead for the first time in the first time in the match.

This time it was sheer power as Rob Herring barrelled his way over after a maul. Murphy was again accurate with the conversion to make it 14-7 in favour of the men in white.

Racing were then held up on the line just short of the half-time whistle, before the TMO got involved again when the visitors thought they had levelled, only to rule it out for an obstruction after some fierce Ulster defence.

Ulster took less than two minutes after the restart to get their third try of the match as Juarno Augustus forced his way over in the left corner, but this time Murphy pulled his conversion just wide of the post.

Ulster got their fourth in the same corner on 48 minutes, with half-time sub Tom Stewart getting down and then Murphy was accurate this time from the conversion to make it 26-7.

Two minutes later, Racing's Fabian Sanconnie was sin-binned while Ulster introduced Australian international Angus Bell for his debut shortly afterwards.

Then a minute before the hour mark, the Ulster dominance continued apace as another second half sub Scott Wilson went over under the post, meaning Murphy has no issues to add the further two points to make 33-7 with a quarter of the tie still to go.

Ulster ran in a sixth try 12 minutes from the end as two substitutes combined with Moore breaking the line before offloading for Jake Flannery to stroll in, as Murphy converted once more to give Ulster a 40-7 lead.

Zac Ward then got in on the action on 73 minutes with the fifth Ulster try of the second half and seventh overall, when he crashed in down the left hand side. Murphy produced a fine conversion from a tight angle to make it 47-7.

They then looked to have saved the best for last as Stockdale finished off a slick passing move for his second of the night. But there was still time for Ward to race clear and grab his own brace right on the final whistle.

Murphy converted both to round off a perfect night at the office.

MATCH STATS

Ulster: Crean, Herring, O’Toole, Sheridan, Irvine, McCann, Timoney, Augustus, Doak, Murphy, Z Ward, Postlethwaite, Hume, Baloucoune, Stockdale

Replacements: Stewart, Bell, Wilson, Hopes, B Ward, McKee, Flannery, Moore

Tries: Stockdale (2), Z Ward (2), Herring, Augustus, Stewart, Wilson, Flannery

Conversions: Murphy (8)

Racing 92: Njocke, Basse, Kharaishvili, Kpoku, Rowlands, Sanconnie, Zinzen, Tagitagivalu, Labarbe, Gibert, Hulleu, Ashvetia, James, Donguy

Replacements: Escobar, Coetzee, Leota, Baudonne, Hill, Albuisson, Carbonneau, Espeut

Tries: Gibert

Conversions: Gibert

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)