ASM Clermont Auvergne ran Ulster Rugby ragged in the second half of their EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final, defeating the Irish province 53-14.
The TOP14 club scored seven tries as they secured a semi-final against Hollywoodbets Sharks, the South African club defeating Edinburgh Rugby.
Both No.8 Pita-Gus Sowakula and flanker Peceli Yato scored braces for the French club.
In an enthralling first-half, Ulster Rugby No.8 Nick Timoney opened the scoring with a quick bit of thinking, pouncing on the ball to dot down after it had bounced out of an Ulster Rugby ruck on the ASM Clermont Auvergne try-line.
Scrum-half John Cooney converted, but the French club soon moved up the gears and struck back with two scores and two penalties; Yato and Sowakula both clattered their way through with powerful runs, fly-half Anthony Belleau converting both and kicking two further penalties to give ASM Clermont Auvergne decisive control.
But Ulster Rugby were not done with the first half yet, making a brave decision to kick to touch after the hosts conceded a penalty with the clock in the red.
That decision was vindicated when Timoney fought his way over the line, Cooney kicking the conversion to set up an exciting second half, with Ulster Rugby just one converted score behind.
But Ulster Rugby’s hopes were soon squashed. Belleau may have opened the second half with a missed penalty, but a trio of brilliant offloads from full-back Alex Newsome, scrum-half Baptiste Jauneau and wing Alivereti Raka set Newsome free down the wing, who dotted down for a third converted score in the 43rd minute.
The killer blow came nearly 20 minutes later, Sowakula grabbing his second converted try. This time it came from a 5m line-out, the French pack brushing Ulster Rugby’s defence aside with a driving maul.
Ulster Rugby’s heads were now well and truly down; replacement Rob Simmons went over for a fifth converted try before Yato, who was named player of the match, grabbed his second converted score.
Joris Jurand finished up the scoring to bring ASM Clermont Auvergne’s points tally above 50, the crowd at the Stade Marcel-Michelin beginning to believe a record fifth EPCR Challenge Cup title might well be on its way.
Scorers:
Clermont Auvergne: Tries: Peceli Yato, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Alex Newsome, Pita-Gus Sowakula, Rob Simmons, Peceli Yato, Joris Jurand. Conversions: Anthony Belleau (4), Anthony Belleau, Sebastien Bezy. Penalties: Anthony Belleau.
Ulster: Tries: Nick Timoney (2). Conversions: John Cooney (2).
Teams:
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Leon Darricarrere, 12 Julien Heriteau, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Anthony Belleau, 9 Baptiste Jauneau (c), 8 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 7 Peceli Yato, 6 Killian Tixeront, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Thibault Lanen, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Yohan Beheregaray, 1 Giorgi Beria. Replacements: 16 Etienne Fourcade, 17 Daniel Bibi Biziwu, 18 Giorgi Dzmanashvili, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Alexandre Fischer, 21 Sebastien Bezy, 22 Theo Giral, 23 Joris Jurand.
Ulster: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Mike Lowry, 10 Nathan Doak, 9 John Cooney, 8 Nick Timoney, 7 David McCann, 6 Harry Sheridan, 5 Iain Henderson (c), 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Andrew Warwick, 18 Scott Wilson, 19 Cormac Izuchukwu, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Jake Flannery, 22 Ethan Mcilroy, 23 Marcus Rea.
