Saracens failed to secure a Heineken Cup quarter-final berth on points
difference despite scoring three tries at Raven Hill.
A lively opening quarter was marred by a mass punch up which resulted in
Ulster's Justin Fitzpatrick and Saracens Paul Wallace being sin-binned.
Saracens opened the scoring after 30 minutes when scrum-half Kyran Bracken
opened up the Ulster midfield and created the space for Tom Shanklin to score,
with Duncan McRae adding the conversion.
Ulster pinned Saracens on their own line as half-time approached, but the
visitors held out and the home side were forced to settle for a David Humphreys
penalty.
The Irish side were on top at the start of the second period and good work by
the home pack resulted in a penalty which Humphreys converted.
Saracens upped the tempo with Danny Grewcock and Scott Murray to the fore, as
they forced a penalty and opted for short range line-out.
Quick ball was fed out to McRae and the Australian was driven over for a try
near the posts before adding the conversion.
Saracens were reduced to 14 men for the second time at the start of the fourth
quarter when flanker Kris Chesney was sin-binned following another fight.
Ulster lifted their game and pushed play deep into Saracens territory but they
lacked the creativity to break down the visitors' excellent defensive cover.
Saracens' hunt for tries continued and concerted pressure on the home line
opened up the Ulster defence, allowing Richard Hill to score with McRae again
adding the points.
The visitors tried to run the ball from their own line towards the end but
they were punished when Humphreys intercepted and scored before adding the
conversion.
A bleak night for Saracens was compounded by a serious injury to Ireland and
Lions prop Wallace, who will undergo an operation tomorrow for a broken ankle.
Teams:
Ulster: McDowell, J. Topping,
Constable, J. Bell, Howe,
Humphreys, Free, Fitzpatrick, Clarke, Best, Johns, Longwell,
Nelson, Ward, McWhirter.
Not Used: S. Bell, Malone, Coulter, Boyd, Weir, Blair,
D. Topping.
Tries: Humphreys.
Cons: Humphreys.
Pens: Humphreys 2.
Saracens: Sparg, O'Mahony, Shanklin,
Sorrell, Luger, McRae,
Bracken, Flatman, Russell, Wallace, Murray, Grewcock, Chesney, Hill, Diprose.
Not Used: Cairns, White, Davison, Roche, Haughton, Johnston, Walshe.
Tries: Shanklin, McRae, Hill.
Cons: McRae 3.
Att: 13,000
Ref: G Dume (France).
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