Jackson comes to fore in felling French giants

RORY BEST and Paddy Jackson shone as Ulster kept their qualification hopes alive by inflicting a first defeat on Pool Five leaders Clermont Auvergne.

The returning Ireland duo inspired Ulster to edge a nine-try clash against the Top 14 leaders with Jackson (left) scoring 19 points.

Ulster director of rugby Les Kiss hailed his side’s second-half power show, but had to admit that some of the shine was taken off as the French side managed to make off with two losing bonus points to stay in control of the pool ahead of the return on Sunday week.

Ulster led 22-18 after a dramatic first half during which the lead changed hands several times and then stretched that lead to 39-18, just before the hour.

However Clermont came roaring back into the game and scored 14 unanswered points to come away with try and losing bonus points.

‘I think from a performance perspective it was brilliant,’ said Kiss, after Ulster had scored five tries with Luke Marshall claiming a brace.

‘There were a lot of good things in terms of the outcome but parts of the process were a little bit disappointing as we let Fofana have too much room in that first half. That kind of momentum which let them stay in the game was disappointing but in the second half we came out and really turned up in that area.’ ULSTER: Piutau, Bowe, L Marshall, McCloskey (Cave 67), Ludik, P Jackson, Pienaar, McCall (Warwick 55), R Best (Herring 76), Herbst (Ah You 60), Browne, Diack (Treadwell 41), Henderson, Henry (Herbst 79), Reidy (C Ross 73). Scorers – T: Marshall 2, Piutau, Henderson, Jackson. C: Jackson 4. P: Jackson 2. CLERMONT: Spedding, Strettle (Raka 17), Lamerat (Stanley 66), Fofana, Abendanon, Lopez, Parra, Chaume (Falgoux 46), Kayser (Behergaray 7-12), Zirakashvili, (Ric 76), Van der Merwe, Vahaamahina (Timani 63), Chouly, Lapandry, Yato (Gerondeau 55). Scorers – T: Yato, Spedding, Abandenon, Chouly. C: Parra 3. P: Parra 2. Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)