Ulster beat Exeter to reach Challenge Cup final

Ulster scored three second-half tries to power past Exeter Chiefs in Belfast Tries: Augustus, Murphy, McCann, Stewart Cons: Doak 3 Pen: Doak Ulster are one game away from a first trophy in 20 years after a 29-12 win over Exeter Chiefs in the Challenge Cup semi-final in Belfast. In a tight and tense first half, where both sides left points on the table, Juarno Augustus' try broke the deadlock but Exeter hit back through Ross Vintcent. Despite being reduced to 14 men when Jacob Stockdale was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle, Ulster led by three points at the break through Nathan Doak's penalty with the final kick of the half.

Tries from Jack Murphy and David McCann extended Ulster's lead, and Tom Stewart's score off the back of a rolling maul put Ulster on the brink of the final. Campbell Ridl's try with the clock in the red was a mere consolation, as Ulster were left to celebrate at full-time. Ulster's last silverware came with the Celtic League in 2006 and Richie Murphy's youthful side will face either Montpellier or Dragons, who play in the second semi-final on Sunday, in Bilbao on 22 May.

For Exeter, their European hopes come to an end and the attentions of Rob Baxter's side will now turn to their remaining Prem Rugby fixtures, starting with Bath on 10 May. In sun-kissed Belfast - a huge contrast to the wind and rain that had impacted Ulster's last-16 and quarter-final wins - the opening stages of the game brought plenty of intensity but was littered with handling errors from both sides. Doak, usually so reliable from the tee, missed a penalty from just outside the 22 in the 10th minute.

Ulster thought they had made the breakthrough their early pressure deserved when Michael Lowry scampered over, but it was ruled out for a neck roll from Cormac Izuchukwu earlier in the play. Similar to Doak, Exeter missed a big chance to get on the board when Harvey Skinner sent a penalty wide, and Ulster soon got the first try of the game in the 26th minute. With another penalty advantage, South African back row Augustus crashed over from close range and Doak added the conversion.