Ulster Rugby scored four tries in their Pool 2 Champions Cup battle to secure a 31-15 win over Racing 92 who is still without a win after two games.
John Cooney kicked a penalty and conversions for all of Ulster Rugby’s tries, three of which came in the first-half courtesy of an electric opening 40 from the hosts.
Flanker Nick Timoney, McCloskey and No. 8 Matty Rea all went over in the first period while Racing 92 was limited to only one unconverted score via scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec, who missed the extras for all three of the visiting side tries.
Racing 92’s performance was riddled with penalty errors, and early on in the second period, they were punished once more as Timoney scored his second try in the 47th minute.
Eventually, the French side regrouped, Janick Tarrit dotting down after a strong maul, but the TOP14 side was still well adrift.
Momentum was now in Racing 92’s favour and another try became inevitable, Tarrit scoring his second as the French side’s pack became dominant, but any real hopes of a Racing 92 comeback were shattered when the French side conceded yet another penalty, Cooney opting to kick what would prove to be the final three points of the game.
Ulster Rugby now look ahead to January and a Round 3 home match against Stade Toulousain, while Racing 92 will surely need a win away against Bath Rugby.
Ulster Rugby: Tries: Nick Timoney, Stuart McCloskey, Matty Rea, Nick Timoney. Conversions: John Cooney (4). Penalty: John Cooney.
Racing 92: Tries: Nolann le Garrec, Janick Tarrit (2).
Teams
Ulster Rugby: 15 Mike Lowry, 14 Rob Baloucoune, 13 James Hume, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 Jacob Stockdale, 10 Billy Burns, 9 John Cooney, 8 Matty Rea, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 Dave Ewers, 5 Iain Henderson (captain), 4 Alan O’Connor, 3 Tom O’Toole, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Eric O’Sullivan, 18 Marty Moore, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Harry Sheridan, 21 Nathan Doak, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Stewart Moore.
Racing 92: 15 Max Spring, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Antoine Gibert, 9 Nolann le Garrec, 8 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Cameron Woki, 5 Will Rowlands, 4 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Janick Tarrit, 1 Hassane Kolingar. Replacements: 16 Eddy Ben Arous, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Gia Kharaishvili, 19 Fabien Sanconnie, 20 Ibrahim Diallo, 21 Maxime Baudonne, 22 Tristan Tedder, 23 Inia Tabuavou.
