Ulster hammer Chiefs to keep knockout hopes alive

Ulster scored four second-half tries to pull clear and secure a resounding win

Investec Champions Cup

Ulster (17) 52

Tries: Izuchukwu 3, McCann 2, Timoney, Herring, Carson Cons: Doak 2, Cooney 4

Exeter (17) 24

Tries: Brown-Bampoe, Vintcent, Tuima, Wimbush Cons: Haydon-Wood, Skinner

Cormac Izuchukwu's hat-trick helped keep alive Ulster's hopes of advancing to the Investec Champions Cup knockout stages with a thumping bonus-point victory over Exeter Chiefs at Kingspan Stadium.

Having fallen 12-0 behind early on, Ulster hit back to draw level at half-time following a breathless opening 40 minutes in which the sides shared six tries.

While the Chiefs ran out of steam, Ulster surged clear with four more tries in the second half to guarantee Challenge Cup rugby and pile pressure on fourth-placed Sharks, who travel to Bordeaux on Sunday (13:00 GMT).

The result draws Ulster level on points with the Sharks but the South African side have the edge on points difference with -33 to to Ulster's -61.

But having suffered three heavy defeats, the manner in which Ulster blew Exeter away in the second half may prove a turning point for their season even if they fall short in reaching the last-16.

For Exeter, however, it is a 13th defeat in 14 games this season for Rob Baxter's side, who are left to reflect on a bruising European campaign that yielded four losses and 224 points conceded.

Sides level after frantic first half

While both sides were low on confidence, it was the visitors who struck early with a well-worked score as Paul Brown-Bampoe crossed for his third try in two games after Ben Hammersley caught Will Haydon-Wood's pinpoint crossfield kick.

With a quarter of an hour gone, Exeter went 12-0 up in the blink of an eye as Ross Vintcent delivered a superb solo try.

Pouncing from just outside his own 22, the back row screamed through a despairing Ulster defence and surged past Stewart Moore and Rob Lyttle to finish in the corner.

Needing a swift response, Ulster's forwards delivered with Izuchukwu and Dave McCann bringing the hosts level at 12-12 with a couple of near-identical tries from close range.

With both sides playing expansive but error-filled rugby, they traded the final two tries of a frenetic opening half when Rus Tuima's score was quickly cancelled out by Timoney, who barged his way through the Exeter defence to score his fourth try in as many games.

Nathan Doak's second missed conversion attempt left the sides locked together at the break.

Ulster turn on style to pull clear

Ulster face a nervous wait with their fate to be decided in Sunday's game between Bordeaux and Sharks

Having been caught by the Chiefs' lively start in the first half, it was Ulster who came out firing after the restart.

After winning a scrum penalty, Jack Murphy - making his first Champions Cup start - kicked to the corner. From there, they claimed the line-out and mauled their way to the Exeter line with Ireland hooker Herring marking his return to action with the bonus-point try.

After scoring the all-important fourth try, it was up to Ulster to chase points and they were more than up to the task, with Izuchukwu, Ben Carson and McCann all scoring in a whirlwind eight-minute spell.

And when Izuchukwu completed his treble, it put rampant Ulster 35 points clear with a raucous home crowd dreaming once more of knockout Champions Cup rugby.

Zack Wimbush's late score may have been nothing more than scant consolation for the Chiefs, but it could yet prove detrimental for Ulster's hopes as all eyes turn to Stade Chaban-Delmas, where a 29-point win for Bordeaux over the Sharks will be enough to send the Irish province through.

Line-ups

Ulster: S Moore; W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, M Lowry; J Murphy, N Doak; E O'Sullivan, R Herring, S Wilson; I Henderson (capt), C Izuchukwu; J McNabney, N Timoney, D McCann.

Replacements: C Reid, T Stewart, C Barrett, H Sheridan, K Treadwell, J Cooney, J Flannery, R Lyttle.

Exeter: H Skinner; B Hammersley, J Hawkins, W Rigg, P Brown-Bampoe; W Haydon-Wood, N Armstrong; W Goodrick-Clarke, J Innard (capt), J Isoefa-Scott; R Tuima, C Tshiunza; M Moloney, R Capstick, R Vintcent.

Replacements: Max Norey, K Blose, J Roots, J Dunne, L Pearson, J Bailey, T Cairns, Z Wimbush.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Sco)