Ulster made a winning start to their Champions Cup campaign with a hard-fought 17-16 victory over Bath at the Recreation Ground. John Cooney’s first-half converted try gave the province a 7-6 lead at the interval, with Freddie Burns’ two penalties all that the home side had to show for their efforts. Rob Lyttle touched down for the visitors in the second period as Ulster stretched their lead but the home fans were cheering when young Gabriel Hamer-Webb’s dazzling run and score just seconds after he had come on closed the gap. Rhys Priestland then landed a penalty to give the south-west outfit the lead but Cooney, who scored 12 points in total, landed another three-pointer to nudge Ulster back in front and they held on to claim the spoils. Harlequins and Clermont Auvergne are the other two sides in Pool 3 and they square off on Saturday evening.
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