Sport

Paddy Jackson kicks Ulster to Exeter ‘dogfight’ win

 Sean Reidy sets off to score the only try of the game in Ulster’s 19-18 Champions Cup win over Exeter at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday
 Sean Reidy sets off to score the only try of the game in Ulster’s 19-18 Champions Cup win over Exeter at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday  Sean Reidy sets off to score the only try of the game in Ulster’s 19-18 Champions Cup win over Exeter at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday

Pool Five: Ulster 19 Exeter Chiefs 18

ULSTER captain Andrew Trimble was relieved to end up with the win after a “proper old school dogfight” with Exeter at Kingspan Stadium.

Paddy’s Jackson’s drop goal two minutes from full-time gave the province a dramatic 19-18 victory that keeps alive their hopes of progressing in the Champions Cup.

Exeter had looked set to take the spoils themselves and bounce back from last week’s 35-8 home defeat to Clermont Auvergne when Gareth Steenson put them ahead with a 76th-minute drop goal. However, Jackson responded to put Ulster back in front and that proved enough to secure victory as Dungannon man Steenson missed with another drop goal attempt right at the end in a thrilling finale.

Trimble said after his side moved onto four points in Pool Five with the win: “It was one of those finishes to a game that was entertaining and I think a lot of supporters got their money’s worth, but it was a little bit too entertaining at the end, we had to dig really deep.

“That is an Exeter side that is hurting a bit from last week’s result and they came out fighting. The first 15-20 minutes when it was dry we were able to take them through phases and move them about the pitch and keep the tempo up, then it just became a proper old school dogfight out there.

“Whenever it comes down to that it’s about who wants it more and who has more character and who is going to be brave enough to stand up and take the game by the scruff of neck, and we had to do that a couple of times.

“Whenever there is three or four minutes left and you have to get down there we put Jackie in the pocket and he delivered.

“I am very proud of the performance and there are definitely things to work on.”

Exeter kicked off after a minute’s silence in memory of Anthony Foley was observed, with the supporters’ own tribute then following with a rendition of the Fields of Athenry.

And it was Ulster who struck first when the Chiefs strayed offside, although Jackson’s fourthminute penalty was equalised two minutes later by Steenson after Reidy had been caught offside.

But Ulster came again with a great attack which swung right, left and right again only for the Chiefs to be nailed for offside again just as Franco van der Merwe lost the ball on the line. Jackson hit the corner and then opted to do so again after the Chiefs were offside at the lineout.

The home side secured another penalty after Jackson’s chip for Luke Marshall was called back. Yet again, Ulster went for the corner and the lineout maul only for Rodney Ah You to knock on and the Chiefs relieved the pressure.

Exeter then spent some time in Ulster territory which yielded them two scrum penalties and a third when the home side were punished for being offside at a ruck, which saw Steenson slot a great penalty from out on the right after 28 minutes. Then out of nothing, Piutau’s hitch-kick out on the right saw him beat three defenders before Reidy followed up to drive over the line.

Jackson’s conversion made it 10-6 to Ulster, which is how the half finished despite Exeter ending the stronger. Piutau helped win Ulster an early penalty after the restart but after going for the corner, the home side’s maul was driven into touch.

However, from their next kickable effort, Jackson put the ball between the posts from long range to extend their lead to 13-6. That was cut to 13-9 on 51 minutes from Steenson’s third penalty of the night before Jackson missed with a 62nd-minute effort from out on the right.

The Chiefs then made it a one-point game in the 66th minute after a great break from Olly Woodburn into Ulster’s 22 resulted in Steenson’s fourth penalty.

The scrappy nature of the game continued but when the Chiefs were pinged at a ruck Jackson gladly took the points in the 70th minute to put Ulster 16-12 in front.

But back came Exeter and when sub Rob Herring went off his feet, Steenson closed the gap again with his 73rd-minute strike, and then he nudged the Chiefs in front with a well-taken drop goal in the 76th minute.

Stung into action, Ulster surged upfield and Jackson then put them a point in front with his own drop goal. With two minutes on the clock, Steenson tried again but this time his drop sailed just wide and Ulster held on.

Exeter prop up Pool Five and are now nine points adrift of leaders Clermont , but coach Rob Baxter is not giving up hope of making the quarter-finals and is drawing on inspiration from last year, when the Chiefs finished top of their pool despite losing three times.

“We topped the pool last year that was won by a team with 16 points and there are four games left and we have a point. We’ll keep fighting to the death and the one thing we have learned if you fight to the death you always have an opportunity,” said Baxter.

“We’ll keep going for it, wrapping up tonight the players are hurting for the right reasons. Last week they were hurting for the wrong reasons because we didn’t give ourselves a chance to get into that game and tonight we did.

“To come to Ulster with such a good crowd and atmosphere and to stand and fight and refuse to get bowed, because there were moments when they got some momentum, and refuse to bend and to be within one or two feet of a drop goal going over and us winning what would have been a remarkable game...

“I’m disappointed but for the right reasons and I think we learned a little bit about ourselves tonight.”