In a battle for fifth place to continue their journeys in the EPCR Challenge Cup, Ulster Rugby beat Exeter Chiefs 52-24 for their first win of the Investec Champions Cup this season.
After a brilliant break through the middle by Will Rigg, a cross-field kick stretched Ulster and Paul Brown-Bampoe was on hand to cross for a consecutive game for Exeter Chiefs.
Will Haydon-Wood added the extras for a perfect start for the visitors before a stunning break from a ruck by Ross Vintcent saw him run half the length of the pitch from a ruck to make it 12-0.
Ulster hit back with 20 minutes on the clock as Cormac Izuchukwu powered over from close range, having been called up to the Ireland squad for the Six Nations earlier this week.
Dave McCann muscled his way to the line in a similar fashion for Ulster shortly after to level the scores at 12-12.
Minutes later Rus Tuima barrelled over as the pendulum swung back towards Chiefs.
But again Ulster responded through Nick Timoney, riding a tackle before racing into the corner to second them into the halftime break at 17-17.
With five tries in the second half, Ulster Rugby earned their first victory of the Investec Champions Cup campaign against Exeter Chiefs.
Back from injury, Rob Herring got over the whitewash on the back of a driving-maul line-out to put Ulster ahead early in the second half after tries from Cormac Izuchukwu, David McCann and Nick Timoney.
With his second of the night, Izuchukwu stretched Ulster's lead before Ben Carson then finished a superb solo score
McCann got his second of the night to make it 45-17, with Izuchukwu completing his hat-trick late on for a 52-24 win in Belfast.
Scorers:
Ulster Rugby: Tries: Cormac Izuchukwu (3), Dave McCann (2), Nick Timoney, Rob Herring, Ben Carson. Conversions: Nathan Doak (2), John Cooney (4).
Exeter Chiefs: Tries: Paul Brown-Bampoe, Ross Vintcent, Rus Tuima, Zack Wimbush. Conversions: Will Haydon-Wood, Harvey Skinner.
Teams
Exeter Chiefs: 15 Harvey Skinner, 14 Ben Hammersley, 13 Joe Hawkins, 12 Will Rigg, 11 Paul Brown-Bampoe, 10 Will Haydon-Wood, 9 Niall Armstrong, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Richard Capstick, 6 Martin Moloney, 5 Christ Tshiunza, 4 Rusi Tuima, 3 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 2 Jack Innard (c), 1 Will Goodrick-Clarke. Replacements: 16 Max Norey, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Jimmy Roots, 19 Jack Dunne, 20 Lewis Pearson, 21 Joe Bailey, 22 Tom Cairns, 23 Zack Wimbush.
Ulster Rugby: 15 Stewart Moore, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Ben Carson, 12 Jude Postlethwaite, 11 Michael Lowry, 10 Jack Murphy, 9 Nathan Doak, 8 David McCann, 7 Nick Timoney, 6 James McNabney, 5 Cormac Izuchukwu, 4 Iain Henderson (c), 3 Scott Wilson, 2 Rob Herring, 1 Eric O’Sullivan. Replacements: 16 Tom Stewart, 17 Callum Reid, 18 Corrie Barrett, 19 Kieran Treadwell, 20 Harry Sheridan, 21 John Cooney, 22 Jake Flannery, 23 Rob Lyttle.