Ulster power past ill-disciplined Montpellier to reach Challenge Cup quarter-final

Ulster are through to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup, after an emphatic second half display saw them come from behind to hammer French strugglers Montpellier at the GGL Stadium.

It's a first win for interim head coach Richie Murphy, whose side came from 14-0 down at one stage in the opening half, eventually running out 40-17 winners to secure a return trip to France next week, where they face Clermont Auvergne in the quarter-final.

A Will Addison try was all Ulster could manage in the opening half as they trailed 17-7 at the break, but the game flipped on a red card for Montpellier lock Paul Willemse just after half time.

The second row, who was also red-carded against Ireland during the Six Nations, connected with the head of Addison as referee Ben Whitehouse issued him with a red card, while the French side's discipline fell apart.

At one stage, the hosts were down to 12 players when Florian Verhaeghe and Vano Karkadze followed Willemse off the pitch with quick-fire yellow cards, while Gabriel N'Gandebe was also sent to the sin-bin with the final play of the game.

Willemse's try on nine minutes gave Montpellier the ideal start, before Aubin Eymeri's gorgeous chip and chase down the touchline was also finished for a try, to make it 14-0 after 23 minutes.

Ulster's spark came in the form of Rob Baloucoune on 27 minutes. The winger went on a weaving, diagonal run on 27 minutes which looked certain to be a try, and while he was tackled just short, he had the presence of mind to release the ball back for Addison, who dotted it down to get his side on the board.

John Cooney's conversion made it 14-7, but the home side did extend their lead before the break, with Louis Foursans-Bourdette's penalty nudging his side 17-7 in