Bordeaux score 26 unanswered points to beat Ulster

Bordeaux turned on the style in the second half to run out comfortable winners in the end

Investec Champions Cup - Pool 1

Ulster (19) 19

Tries: Izuchukwu, Timoney, Kok Cons: Doak 2

Bordeaux (14) 40

Tries: Tatafu, penalty try, Penaud, Petti, Bielle-Biarray, Boniface Cons: Carbery 2, Garcia 2

Ulster suffered more pain at the hands of a clinical French team as Bordeaux scored 26 unanswered points in the second half to win a thrilling Investec Champions Cup pool encounter in Belfast.

Having been decimated by Toulouse in France last week, Ulster built the platform for a bounce-back win with Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney and Werner Kok tries giving them a 19-14 lead at half-time.

Bordeaux took time to get going and flattered to deceive during a first half that yielded yellow cards for Marko Gazzotti, Jefferson Poirot and Yoram Moefana.

But like they did against Leicester last week, the Top 14 team showed their teeth in the second half and produced some thrilling rugby to which Ulster had no response.

After Tevita Tatafu's early score and a penalty try in the first half, Damian Penaud, Guido Petti, Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Ugo Boniface all scored in a devastating second-half display to lift the visitors to a bonus-point win and leave Ulster empty-handed after the opening two rounds.

With their hopes of reaching the knockout rounds already fading, Ulster face Leicester away and Exeter at home in their final two pool games in January.

Frantic first half

In Toulouse, Ulster were simply dismantled and blown away by a superior side. Here, however, they responded impressively to an early setback to edge a pulsating first half that featured five tries and three yellow cards.

Following their nine-try mauling in the south of France, Ulster head coach Richie Murphy saw fit to go with an entirely different pack and give Ireland Sevens star Zac Ward a senior debut.

Indeed, the return of Ulster's frontline players paid dividends early with Izuchukwu and Timoney - two of his recalled forwards - scoring to turn the tide in their favour after Tatafu gave Bordeaux a second-minute lead.

First, recent Ireland debutant Izuchukwu struck after Romain Latterade's line-out eluded his team-mates and gifted Stuart McCloskey possession deep inside the French side's 22.

Ulster coughed up a couple of opportunities immediately after their opening try, but Timoney put the hosts ahead midway through the first half after Bordeaux flanker Marko Gazzotti was sin-binned.

Both defences looked shaky during a frantic opening 40 minutes and it was Bordeaux who profited next. While there was no clear grounding on Maxime Lucu's dive over the line, Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi awarded the visitors a penalty try and sent David McCann to the sin-bin for collapsing the maul.

To Ulster's relief, though, Bordeaux's indiscipline left the door open for the hosts with Jefferson Poirot and Yoram Moefana sin-binned within the blink of an eye, the latter fortunate to escape a red card for his high tackle on Timoney.

And having failed to capitalise on several promising forays into Bordeaux territory, there was a sense of relief when Kok sprinted into the corner to finish a sweeping move, the South African's second try for the club giving Ulster the edge after a breathless first half.

Ulster have now lost four games in a row and have shipped over 100 points in their first European fixtures

While Ulster had gotten their noses in front, Bordeaux always stood a chance with such a lethal back three, all of whom were involved in their third try as Arthur Retiere and Bielle-Biarrey combined to put prolific France wing Penaud over in the corner.

From there, it only got worse for Ulster as Bordeaux galloped out of sight.

Petti secured the bonus-point score after a wonderful Penaud offload before the jet-heeled Bielle-Biarrey and Boniface rubbed salt in the home side's wounds and left the travelling supporters delighted.

For the hosts, however, there is a sense of deepening anguish after a fourth successive defeat in all competitions and another ultimately dispiriting evening against French opposition.

Line-ups

Ulster: Lowry; Kok, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Ward; Morgan, Doak; O'Sullivan, Herring, O'Toole; Henderson (capt), Treadwell; Izuchukwu, Timoney, McCann.

Replacements: Andrew, Warwick, Wilson, Sheridan, Marcus Rea, Shanahan, Humphreys, Telfer.

Sin-bin: McCann (27)

Bordeaux: Bielle-Biarrey; Penaud, Depoortere, Moefana, Retiere; Carbery, Lucu (capt); Poirot, Latterrade, Sadie; Petti, Gray; Gazzotti, Swinton, Tatafu.

Replacements: Lamothe, Boniface, Tameifuna, Coleman, Ricard, Vergnes-Taillefer, Tapuai, Garcia.

Sin-bin: Gazzotti (17), Poirot (31), Moefana (31)

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)