Drop goal shoot-out sees Chiefs fall short
THERE was a thrilling finish at Kingspan Stadium when the lead changed hands in the dying moments in an exchange of drop goals in a dramatic finish.
Chiefs skipper Gareth Steenson looked set to grab victory but his drop goal from 35 metres swung inches the wrong side of the right post.
He had edged the Chiefs in front two minutes earlier with a drop goal as they looked set for a smash and grab.
But Paddy Jackson restored the lead inside a minute at the other end when he kept his composure to land a drop goal in front of the posts.
It was a mistake-ridden contest but the sublime skills of Charles Piutau ensured Ulster always looked capable of doing something special.
Exeter Chiefs, having conceded two tries to the All Black when they were pipped 25-24 by Wasps in the quarter-finals last season, were given another torrid time by the superb Kiwi, who played on the wing last night in Belfast.
These two sides had never met in a competitive fixture before this but both knew that victory was required to keep any hopes of a quarter-final alive after they lost their opening games.
It was a homecoming for Chiefs captain Steenson, having come through the Ulster academy, while centre Ian Whitten spent four seasons with the Belfast.
But it was Ulster out-half Jackson who broke the deadlock with a penalty after five minutes as Les Kiss’ men tried to bounce back after the loss in Bordeaux last weekend.
Steenson equalised a couple of minutes later with a penalty from the left but it was Ulster who domi- nated the opening half, building up a 10-6 interval lead with 67 per cent possession.
But three penalties to the right corner yielded nothing for Ulster when Rodney Ah You knocked on.
And a penalty given away by the other prop Kyle McCall gave Steenson the chance to edge Exeter in front and he made no mistake after 28 minutes with a good penalty.
However, the sheer class of Piutau eventually saw Ulster crack the visitors’ cover when he broke from deep and with Ruan Pienaar clearing out when he was nabbed, flanker Sean Reidy picked and went from inside the 22, with the summer Irish international finishing well and Jackson adding the extras to lead 106 at the break.
Jackson increased the lead to 13-6 four minutes after the restart after Piutau was held back by James Short down the right.
But Exeter defended well and continued to remain in the contest, with Steenson cutting the gap to four after 52 minutes with his third penalty.
Exeter continued to defend well with both teams struggling to string moves together in the constant rain.
And it took some good work from Henry Slade to prevent Piutau getting Ulster’s second try just after the two of them chased a grubber from Stuart Olding.
Ulster opted to go for the posts with a difficult penalty from the ten metre line on the right after 63 minutes but Jackson was unable to extend their lead.
And three minutes later Steenson cut the gap to 13-12 after a good break by Olly Woodburn coughed up a penalty in front of the posts.
Jackson eased the home nerves with another penalty to restored their four points lead going into the final ten minutes.
However, the Chiefs never gave up and Steenson set up an exciting finish when he slotted his fifth penalty of the night six minutes from to leave them one behind and that was the cue for the late drop goal drama.
Exeter boss Rob Baxter: said: “Our performance tonight has given us a great foundation, not only for our Champions C campaign but also the rest of our season.
“I’m hurting tonight but I’m hurting for all the right reasons. I’m not hurting for the wrong reasons and last week it was for all of the wrong reasons.
“I just said that to the players who are in their now hurting, but they have are hurting for the right reasons after taking part in a blood and guts game, they had it flat out and in a way you couldn’t deny that either team deserved to win or lose.
Ulster head coach Les Kiss said: “It was a classic encounter, we expected nothing less. Rob’s right, they came to the party tonight and shouldn’t be too disappointed. “