Advertisement

Saracens mount stunning fightback against Ulster for second European win

Champions Cup gradually returns to action following horrific terrorist attacks in Paris

Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
Toulouse flanker Talalelei Gray from Australia (centre rear) wraps up Oyonnax hooker Jeremie Maurouard during their European Rugby Champions Cup at the Stade Ernest Wallon in Toulouse on Saturday. Photos: AFP

Saracens fought back from 9-0 down to defeat Ulster 27-9 at a rain-swept Belfast on Friday to make it two wins from two in their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign.

Advertisement

Saracens beat four-time champions Toulouse 32-7 in their Pool 1 opener last week and were just as fluent in Northern Ireland in testing conditions.

Paddy Jackson kicked three first-half penalties for Ulster whose scheduled opening game last week against French team Oyonnax was called off in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks.

How can you react? It was a big tragedy what happened in Paris, but we put it behind us and we need to look at the next game against Wasps
Toulon captain Juan Smith

But a try from Chris Wyles kept the English side in touch at the interval before Alex Goode, Duncan Taylor and Billy Vunipola added second-half tries to lead their team to a convincing win.

The scores from Goode and Taylor came when the English Premiership leaders were down to 14 men.

Indeed, Saracens shipped two yellow cards, coming in either half, with Michael Rhodes and Vunipola being sent to the bin.

Advertisement

On a windy, difficult night for kicking, England fly-half Owen Farrell managed just one penalty and a conversion.

Advertisement