European Rugby 20th Nov

European Champions Cup 

Ulster 9-27 Saracens 

Saracens came from behind to claim a bonus-point victory by defeating Ulster 27-9 in their European Rugby Champions Cup clash at Kingspan Park this evening.

The visitors were reduced to 14 men in the third minute when Michael Rhodes was sent to the sin bin, allowing Ruan Pienaar a kick at the posts, but the South African spurned his chance.

Owen Farrell could have handed Saracens the lead, but he also sent his kick from distance wide of the uprights.

Ulster went ahead when Paddy Jackson showed accuracy with his boot to kick the home side ahead in the 15th minute, while he then extended their advantage with a drop goal.

The boot of Jackson proved to be deadly for hosts again when he fired a penalty through the posts to hand the home side a nine-point cushion.

However, Chris Wyles continued his strong start to the campaign by bringing Saracens back into the match when he crashed over in the corner for the first try of the match, although Farrell sent his conversion wide of the posts.

Farrell missed another kick before the break to leave the visitors trailing by four, but Wyles and Chris Ashton almost combined at the start of the second half to hand Richard Wigglesworth a try-scoring chance, but the winger's grubber kick went inches out of the scrum-half's reach.

Billy Vunipola became the second Saracens player to enter the sin bin during the contest for colliding with a player, but the visitors were able to take the lead through good play from Duncan Taylor as he released Alex Goode to touch down on the line, while Farrell added the extras.

Taylor notched Saracens third try of the match after he finished a flowing move following good work from Farrell to create space for the centre to find the line, but the fly-half missed the conversion.


Farrell added a penalty to all-but secure the win, and the visitors notched their fourth try to bring up the bonus point as Vunipola bounded over the line following his return to the pitch to claim an emphatic victory.



European Challenge Cup 

Agen 6-27 Edinburgh 

Edinburgh have maintained their unbeaten start to the European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage with a 27-6 win over Agen. The French side made it difficult for the visitors in the opening 20 minutes, but Greg Tonks kicked a couple of penalties to put Edinburgh ahead, before a penalty try following an error in the scrum allowed the Scottish side to extend their advantage just before the break. 

John Hardie set up Edinburgh's second try of the night at the start of the second half, offloading to Cornell Du Preez, who broke clear down the sideline before leaping over. The rain began to fall as the match progressed, resulting in a knock on from Edinburgh to let Agen get their first points on the board, with Clement Darbo kicking twice in five minutes. Hardie made sure the home side did not get back into the tie though, grounding the ball from a driving maul, before the visitors survived a series of late lineouts from Agen to prevent the French club getting across the line. 


Montpellier 64-0 Calvisano 

Montpellier scored 10 tries in an emphatic 64-0 win over Rugby Calvisano in their European Rugby Challenge Cup pool match this evening. The home side were ahead early on when Marvin O'Connor charged across for the opening try of the night, before Beniot Paillaugue followed inside the opening 15 minutes. Montepellier added two more tries before the interval as they continued to dominate the possession and territory, as well as being awarded a penalty try on the cusp of half time. 

The home side did not ease off after the break, with Ben Mowen sprinting clear before Anthony Tuitavake added a seventh for the team. Calvisano started to see more of the ball inside the final 15 minutes as they tried to slow their opponents' scoring, but Robert Ebersohn and Yvan Reilhac both crossed the line in the final five minutes to ensure that the home side finished with a flourish.