Saracens score bonus-point win at Ulster in Champions Cup
Last Updated: 22/11/15 10:45pm
Saracens made it two wins from two in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup with an impressive 27-9 victory over Ulster at Kingspan Stadium on Friday night.
The Aviva Premiership leaders scored the game's only tries through Chris Wyles, Alex Goode, Duncan Taylor and Billy Vunipola, with the touchdowns from Goode and Taylor being scored when the visitors were down to 14 men.
Saracens shipped two yellow cards, Michael Rhodes and Vunipola being sent to the bin in either half, but they managed to make light of both potentially damaging situations.
On a bitterly cold night, with a swirling wind and occasional snow, Owen Farrell kicked just one penalty and a conversion while Ulster's only scores were in the first half with Paddy Jackson kicking two penalties and a drop goal.
Ulster led 9-5 at the break but failed to score again and their hopes of qualification have now suffered potentially terminal damage in Les Kiss' first European game in charge.
The Irish province got the scoreboard moving at the 15-minute mark after Darren Cave had been hit high by Brad Barritt, with Jackson nailing the kick from close range.
The hosts managed another score on 20 minutes when, with a penalty coming their way and the wind behind them, Jackson coolly slotted a drop goal.
Five minutes later and referee Romain Poite reversed a penalty he had initially given against Ulster after Nick Williams was downed by a no-arms tackle from Jacques Burger. Jackson landed the kick and the home side led 9-0.
But Sarries hit back on the half-hour when Wyles crossed after the visitors had shaped to maul a line-out but then moved the ball at pace right across the line, Farrell and Goode combining to send the wing over in the corner.
Farrell failed to add the difficult conversion and the fly-half also missed a late penalty attempt to leave them trailing by four points at half-time.
The second half began with Saracens laying siege to Ulster's line and only a charge out of defence from Iain Henderson got the home side out of their half.
Vunipola was then sin-binned in the 54th minute for a shoulder charge on the Ireland forward, but it was the visitors who struck despite being down a man, Goode putting up a chip which Taylor gathered and his wonderful offload took out two defenders and sent Goode over unopposed.
Farrell nailed the conversion to give Sarries a 12-9 lead on the hour mark.
Still down a man, Sarries came again with Farrell dummying and dancing through the tiring Ulster defence to put Taylor through.
Farrell then slotted a penalty before Sarries grabbed their bonus score in the last minute when, with Rory Best in the bin, Vunipola was driven over in a maul and Hodgson converted.