Ulster 29 Exeter Chiefs 12
Ulster players, from left, Charlie Irvine, Dave McCann and Cormac Izuchukwu celebrate after their Challenge Cup semi-final win over Exeter Chiefs at Affidea Stadium in Belfast. Photo: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ulster are back on a European final stage. At a sunlit Affidea Stadium, Richie Murphy’s side shook off a tense, jittery first-half and then ripped Exeter apart after the break to reach the Challenge Cup final in Bilbao.
Ulster led 10-7 at the interval after trading punches, but the game broke on 47 minutes when Jack Murphy finished a sharp strike down the left. From there, it turned into something else entirely. Ulster took control and scored three second-half tries as Exeter folded.