Ulster Rugby 19 Exeter Chiefs 18

In the city which built the ill-fated Titanic, Exeter Chiefs were left with that sinking feeling in this dramatic European Champions Cup encounter at the Kingspan Stadium.

Paddy Jackson’s late drop-goal condemned Rob Baxter’s side to back-to-back defeats in the competition and robbed Gareth Steenson of a happy homecoming back in his native Northern Ireland.

Steenson plundered all 18 of Exeter’s points on the night, landing five penalties and a drop-goal, in another accomplished display from the Dungannon-born marksman.

However, he could not deliver the final nail into his former club’s coffin as his second drop-goal – with just a minute remaining on the clock – agonisingly skimmed past the post.

It was a tough pill to swallow for Steenson – who along with another fella from these parts, Ian Whitten – were hoping to get Exeter’s escapades in Europe’s top club competition back on track.

In what was a pulsating clash from start to finish, Ulster prevailed in the end thanks to the boot of Jackson, who along with his match-winning drop-goal, also landed four penalties and converted Sean Reidy’s first half try.

Undone in Round One by a very slick ASM Clermont Auvergne, the Chiefs were hoping this latest engagement across the Irish Sea would prove more fruitful.

Ahead of kick-off, head coach Baxter made three changes in personnel, bringing in Jack Yeandle at hooker for the injured Luke Cowan-Dickie, while behind the inclusion of James Short on the left wing meant former Ulsterman Ian Whitten was shunted into a new midfield pairing alongside the recalled Henry Slade.

Ulster, meanwhile, made four changes to their side undone at Bordeaux-Begles the week previous. Three of those changes came in the pack where there were starts for Kyle McCall, Pete Browne and Roger Wilson, whilst in the back division former Wasps star Charles Piutau returned on the left flank.
985795-2With victory imperative for both sides if they were to keep alive their European aspirations, it was little wonder that the game started at a frantic pace. The home side set the early tone with some fast hands and lively raids, but the Chiefs were more than up for the challenge, repelling them with some ruthless, bone-crunching hits.

However, it was Ulster who broke the deadlock on five minutes when Baxter’s side were penalised for straying offside in midfield. It allowed fly-half Jackson his first shot at goal and the Irish international did not disappoint, plundering a 30-metre kick with relative ease.

Home joy proved short-lived, though, as within two minutes parity was restored as the Devonians made the most of their first foray into enemy territory. Strong work by the Exeter eight saw them drive deep into the Ulster half and when Reidy strayed offside, cute work from Dave Lewis at the base of a ruck saw him cannon the ball off the openside flanker to create the penalty.

Steenson, a former Ulster Academy product, made the most of the opportunity, drilling a sublime kick between the sticks much to the joy of the travelling Tribe.

With little to choose between either side, Ulster looked to regain the initiative when they positioned themselves deep inside the Exeter 22. A series of penalties – which included a team warning for the Chiefs – saw them threaten the try-line, but some defiant defence from Baxter’s side saw them not only keep their rivals at bay, but at the same time turn over crucial possession.

Having repelled the threat, the Chiefs slowly began to crank up the gears and they were rewarded just before the half hour mark when Steenson slotted his second penalty of the night after the hosts were adjudged to have come in from the side by French referee Alexandre Ruiz.

But just as Ulster had failed to hold onto their slender advantage earlier in the contest, so the Chiefs did exactly the same, conceding a try just three minutes later.

The dangerous Piutau caused the initial havoc with some dazzling footwork – and although he was halted by a combination of Short and Lachlan Turner – Ulster were quickest to react, creating the opening for Reidy to over with relative ease for the converted score.

Half time: Ulster Rugby 10 Exeter Chiefs 6