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          European Rugby Champions Cup 2018
          UlsterUlsterULS
          52
          16/12FT
          24
          HarlequinsHarlequinsHAR
          • Stuart McCloskey(18')
          • Craig Gilroy(44')
          • Charles Piutau(56')
          • Alan O'Connor(62')
          • John Cooney(72')
          • Andrew Trimble(80')
          • John Cooney(19', 46', 63', 73', 81')
          • John Cooney(5', 10', 34', 51')
          • Marcus Smith(14')
          • Charlie Walker(30')
          • Ross Chisholm(59')
          • Dave Ward(67')
          • Marcus Smith(31', 68')
          • SummarySummary
          • ReportReport
          • CommentaryCommentary
          • Match StatsMatch Stats
          • Player StatsPlayer Stats
          • LineupsLineups
          • TableTable

          Ulster maintain Euro hopes with six-try defeat of Harlequins

          Ulster backed up their win in west London with another victory over Harlequins in Belfast. Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
          • PA Sport
          Multiple Authors
          Dec 16, 2017, 09:07 AM
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          Ulster stayed in the race for Champions Cup qualification by delivering a six-try thumping of Harlequins.

          Tries from Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy, Charles Piutau, Alan O'Connor, John Cooney and Andrew Trimble set up a 52-24 win for Les Kiss's side, completing back-to-back wins over the English club.

          Cooney kicked five conversions and four penalties for a personal haul of 27 points in the contest at the Kingspan Stadium.

          Despite the five-day turnaround, Ulster got the result they needed to stay secure in second in Pool 1, two points behind runaway leaders La Rochelle -- who play at Wasps on Sunday.

          It took just four minutes for the hosts to get off the mark when Cooney kicked a penalty near the posts following a strong break by Rob Herring.

          The Ulster scrum-half kicked a second penalty in the ninth minute after Winston Stanley was penalised following Marcus Smith's ambitious cross-kick from behind his own line.

          But Quins hit back after 14 minutes when Renaldo Bothma intercepted a Piutau pass and although Gilroy did well to get back and haul the No. 8 down short of the line, the visitors recycled and Smith rounded Cooney to go over in the left corner.

          Ulster responded three minutes later when McCloskey crossed after hacking on from a Christian Leali'ifano kick over the top. Cooney added a magnificent conversion from the touchline and Ulster led 13-5.

          Craig Walker then had a possible score turned down by the TMO after Jacob Stockdale's last-ditch tackle but almost immediately got in under the posts after a great arcing run. Smith's conversion cut Ulster's lead to 13-12 on the half hour.

          Cooney's third penalty made it 16-12 in the 33rd minute - and that was the end of the first half scoring.

          Ulster hit the ground running on the restart with Gilroy wriggling over four minutes in and Cooney added another marvellous conversion to put the home side 23-12 ahead.

          That became 26-12 in the 50th minute with Cooney's fourth penalty and then five minutes later Piutau barged over for Ulster's third try which saw Cooney miss his first kick of the game after six straight successes from the tee.

          Again, though, Quins came back with Ross Chisholm's 58th minute try which went unconverted - but then Kyle Sinckler's yellow card on the hour mark saw the home side score immediately off lock O'Connor, who bagged the bonus point. Cooney's conversion stretched Ulster's lead to 38-17.

          Quins then got their bonus try from skipper Dave Ward, with Smith adding the conversion.

          However, Ulster got their fifth try from Cooney. which the scrum-half converted to put the home team 45-24 in front.

          And the home side brought the half-century of points up when Trimble got over in the corner, with Cooney again converting.

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          Standings

          Pool 1
          RTeamGPPDP
          1GLA4+4920
          2STA4+9412
          3SAL4-3811
          4SAR4+1310
          5SHA4-1010
          6ASM4-1080
          Pool 2
          RTeamGPPDP
          1BAT4+9116
          2RC4+1714
          3CAS4-810
          4EDI4-7110
          5MUN4-28
          6GLO4-276
          Pool 3
          RTeamGPPDP
          1LEI4+3518
          2HAR4+9815
          3STO4-814
          4LEI4+36
          5STA4-136
          6BAY4-1150
          Pool 4
          RTeamGPPDP
          1UNI4+7620
          2NOR4+4616
          3BRI4+5014
          4BUL4-687
          5SEC4-506
          6SCA4-543
          Full Table

          European Rugby Champions Cup 2018 News

          • Champions Cup match delayed after parachutist stuck on roof

            A Champions Cup rugby game between Toulouse and Sale was delayed for about half an hour on Sunday when a parachutist in a pre-match display was caught on the roof of the Stadium de Toulouse.

          • Parachutist trapped on roof before Toulouse v Sale game

            A Champions Cup rugby game was delayed for about half an hour on Sunday when a parachutist in a pre-match display was caught on the roof.

          • Toulouse win Champions Cup in thrilling final against Leinster

            Toulouse won a record-extending sixth European Champions Cup when a Matthis Lebel try helped them beat Leinster 31-22 after extra-time on Saturday.

          • Rugby Club World Cup set to be launched in 2028 - sources

            Plans for a rugby Club World Cup where the best northern and southern hemisphere club sides will compete against each other are in the offing, sources have told ESPN, with the tournament set to launch in 2028.

          • La Rochelle edge Leinster again to win back-to-back European crowns

            La Rochelle became the fifth team to win back-to-back European Champions Cups on Saturday when they clawed back a 17-point deficit to beat Leinster 27-26 at the Aviva Stadium in another breathless final between the sides.

          • Campo's call: Koroibete can get better still, Suaalii approach sends wrong message

            Wallabies great David Campese says Marika Koroibete is yet to hit the ceiling of his rugby talents, but the man who made the gold No. 11 jersey famous is displeased by talk Rugby Australia is lining up a mega-rich offer to teen sensation Joseph Suaali'i.