Leicester fightback downs Ulster

Leicester Tigers needed a stunning second-half performance to overcome Ulster Rugby 33-24 at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, having trailed by 11 points going into the break.

George Ford put Tigers ahead with a penalty early on, but Ulster’s John Cooney levelled with a kick of his own, before the visitors’ Robert Baloucoune saw a try chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up.

The Irish province were very much in the ascendency during the opening exchanges and capitalised on a yellow card for Leicester’s Tom Youngs as Iain Henderson crossed on 15 minutes.

Cooney duly added the extras, and the scrum-half was on conversion duties again six minutes later as Ulster exploited their numerical advantage and released Billy Burns who dived over to extend their lead.

Cooney’s kick proved to be the final points of the half, and Leicester regrouped and reassessed at the interval before flying out of the blocks in the second period,

A rampaging run from Nemani Nadolo set-up a try for No.8 Jasper Wiese on 44 minutes, with Ford converting before slotting a simple penalty moments later to reduce the deficit to one point.

Tigers completed their remarkable turnaround on 52 minutes as prop Ellis Genge found space on the wing and powered over, with the influential Ford adding the conversion before nailing a drop-goal with just under an hour played..

Ulster rallied through a Nick Timoney score, but a flowing Leicester move released Guy Porter for a try that sealed the hosts’ victory and sent the English side into their first European final since 2009.

Dogged Montpellier win at Bath

Montpellier produced a tremendous defensive effort to prevent an all-English Challenge Cup final as they beat Bath Rugby 19-10 at the Recreation Ground.

The French side got off to a nightmare start however, as an overthrown lineout handed Bath possession and Tom Dunn bundled over for a score with just two minutes played.

Ben Spencer’s conversion extended Bath’s lead, but their early advantage was cut to four points as Montpellier catalyst Benoit Paillaugue nudged a penalty on 19 minutes.

The scrum-half was involved once again as Montpellier then hit the front, chipping a delightful kick in behind to Vincent Rattez who released Yacouba Camara for what would be the visitors’ only try of the game.

Paillaugue converted to give Montpellier a three-point lead, but Bath were level on 26 minutes as Spencer slotted a penalty.

It was Paillaugue who would have the final say of the half though, dissecting the posts with two further penalties in the minutes leading up to the interval to give Montpellier a slender advantage.

Despite the best efforts of a relentless Bath attack, the French side held firm in the second half, repelling a series of the hosts’ forays into their 22.

Montpellier’s admirable defence continued even when a man down, as Bath were unable to exploit a sin-bin for Enzo Forletta on 56 minutes.

The TOP 14 side’s sensational showing was capped in the closing moments as Handre Pollard kicked a penalty to confirm their place in the showpiece final at Twickenham.

Our season review now turns to the European Rugby Challenge Cup semi-finals, which produced two enthralling encounters as four of the continent's top sides went head-to-head with the prize of a Twickenham Stadium final at stake.