UBB Rugby Explodes In 2nd Half Vs. Ulster In Champions Cup ...

UBB Rugby found itself trailing at times against Ulster as the Belfast crowd pushed for what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the Investec Champions Cup. 

But the undermanned Ulster club, missing Jacob Stockdale, couldn't keep up with the talented club from Bordeaux. UBB exploded in the final 40 minutes, scoring 26 unanswered points to win 40-19 at Kingspan Stadium on Dec. 14. 

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Trailing 19-14 at half, all-world winger Damian Penaud led the surge with a try in the 61st minute and a confident Joey Carbery converted to give UBB its first lead. From there it was all Bordeaux. 

UBB moves to 2-0-0 in Champions Cup play while Ulster is 0-0-2 after opening with the top-two Top 14 clubs, Toulouse in Round 1 and UBB. 

First Half Was High-Scoring And Tense As Ulster Came To Play

UBB started quickly, with Tevita Tatafu crossing the line in the 2nd minute, converted by Joey Carbery, to take an early 7-0 lead. Ulster responded immediately, with Cormac Izuchukwu scoring in the 6th minute, and Nathan Doak’s conversion tied the match at 7-7.

Ulster took the lead in the 16th minute when Nick Timoney powered over for a try, converted by Doak, making it 14-7. Bordeaux responded with a penalty try in the 27th minute after Dave McCann was yellow-carded for Ulster, leveling the score at 14-14.

As halftime approached, Ulster regained the lead through a try by Werner Kok, though Doak missed the conversion. The hosts led 19-14 at the break.

Bordeaux Dominate In Second Half

The second half was all Bordeaux. Damian Penaud scored a try in the 61st minute, converted by Carbery, to tie the game at 19-19. Guido Petti added another try six minutes later, with Matéo Garcia’s conversion putting UBB ahead 26-19.

Louis Bielle-Biarrey extended Bordeaux’s lead in the 71st minute, and Garcia converted to make it 33-19. Ugo Boniface sealed the victory with a try in the 78th minute, though Garcia missed the conversion, leaving the final score at 40-19.

Ulster vs. UBB Rugby Scoring Summary

Bordeaux-Bègles: Tries: Tatafu (2’), Penalty Try (27’), Penaud (61’), Petti (67’), Bielle-Biarrey (71’), Boniface (78’); Conversions: Carbery (2’, 61’), Garcia (67’, 71’)

Ulster Rugby: Tries: Izuchukwu (6’), Timoney (16’), Kok (40’); Conversions: Doak (6’, 16’)

What's Next For UBB, Ulster Rugby In Champions Cup?

Bordeaux travels to Exeter in January for Round 3, while Ulster will look to rally in Champions Cup play with a match at Leicester. 

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1 ResultsLa Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20ASM Clermont Auvergne 28, Benetton Rugby 0Hollywoodbets Sharks 39 Exeter Chiefs 21Northampton Saints 38, Castres Olympique 8RC Toulon 24, DHL Stormers 14Munster Rugby 33, Stade Francais Paris 7Saracens 27, Vodacom Bulls 5Glasgow Warriors 38, Sale Sharks 19Racing 92 23, Harlequins 12Union Bordeaux-Bègles 42, Leicester Tigers 28Stade Toulousain 54, Ulster Rugby 21Leinster Rugby 35, Bristol Bears 12Investec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 2

All Times Eastern. 

Sale Sharks 29, vs. Racing 92 7Castres Olympique 16 vs. Munster Rugby 14Northampton Saints 30, Vodacom Bulls 21Union Bordeaux-Bègles 40, Ulster Rugby 19Leinster Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Aviva StadiumLeicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadStade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel DeflandreHarlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham StoopRC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix MayolBenetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio MonigoStade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean BouinExeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy ParkInvestec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 3Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun StadiumDHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL StadiumExeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy ParkHollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings ParkMunster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond ParkStade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean BouinLeicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford RoadCastres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-FabreRC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix MayolStade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel DeflandreBristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton GateBath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The RecInvestec Champions Cup Fixtures In Round 4Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan StadiumVodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus VersfeldNorthampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's GardensASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-MichelinBenetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio MonigoLeinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva StadiumHarlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham StoopRacing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense ArenaUnion Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-DelmasSaracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX StadiumStade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest WallonSale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community StadiumInvestec Champions Cup Format 

Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:

A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of sixSporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stageFour highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.Investec Champions Cup WeekendsRound 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 20252025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, CardiffChampions Cup Qualifications 

Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:

United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont AuvergneGALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester TigersUNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets SharksWhen Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?

The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4. 

The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup). 

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