Ulster beat Clermont 39-32 in the Champions Cup
Last Updated: 10/12/16 7:44pm
Ulster edged Clermont 39-32 in a nine-try thriller in Belfast on Saturday to keep their European Champions Cup hopes alive.
The result saw Ulster go second in Pool 5 on nine points, three behind leaders Clermont, who picked up two bonus points despite the defeat.
Both sides were full of running but it was Clermont who struck first - and early - as No 8 Peceli Yato went over within two minutes. Morgan Parra added the extras but Ulster came roaring back through Luke Marshall who split the defence for a straight run-in and then Ian Henderson scored after a Ruan Pienaar cross-kick.
Slick hands saw Clermont full-back Scott Spedding go over before Paddy Jackson gathered his own grubber to give the Irish province a 22-18 lead after an enthralling first 40 minutes,
A high-tempo start to the second period saw Marshall crash over for his second, and then Ulster full-back Charles Piutau outpaced the defence after bluffing his way into space down the right wing to cross in the corner.
But Clermont hit back through England winger Nick Abendanon to keep the French side in the hunt. Skipper Damien Chouly then went over with Parra's conversion taking Clermont to within five points.
Ulster had prop Rodney Ah You sin binned late on for a high tackle, and the Irish province tried to run down the clock, with Pienaar at the helm. But with 20 seconds to play, they gifted Clermont a final chance, however a knock-on in midfield ended their hopes of a draw.
