Saracens down Ulster for second European win

Saracens fought back from 9-0 down to defeat Ulster 27-9 on Friday at a rainswept Belfast to make it two wins from two in their European Champions Cup campaign.

Saracens had defeated four-time champions Toulouse 32-7 in their Pool 1 opener last week and were just as fluent in Northern Ireland in testing conditions.

Paddy Jackson kicked three first-half penalties for Ulster whose scheduled opening game last week against French team Oyonnax was called off in the aftermath of the Paris terror attacks.

But a try from Chris Wyles kept the English side in touch at the interval before Alex Goode, Duncan Taylor and Billy Vunipola added second-half tries to lead their team to a convincing win.

The scores from Goode and Taylor came when the English Premiership leaders were down to 14 men.

Indeed, Saracens shipped two yellow cards, coming in either half, with Michael Rhodes and Vunipola being sent to the bin.

On a windy, difficult night for kicking, England fly-half Owen Farrell managed just one penalty and a conversion.

"Saracens are the best side we have played this season," said Ulster head coach Neil Doak.

"They managed the conditions better than us and I've no complaints about the result.

"We now have to try and pick up a couple of away wins to progress from the pool."

Source: AFP