Ulster's bonus-point victory means that the province have qualified for the EPCR Challenge Cup, but could still play in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup if the Hollywoodbets Sharks pick up no match points against Bordeaux and lose by 28 points on Sunday afternoon.
Ulster got off to the worst possible start, conceding a try with just two minutes on the clock.
The Chiefs worked the ball through a series of phases in the homes side’s 22 before out half Will Haydon-Wood put in a cross-field kick, Ben Hammersley made the catch and popped the ball inside to fellow winger Paul Brown-Bampoe to dive over.
Haydon-Wood converted from a tight angle.
Matters were made worse as Werner Kok had to be replaced early on with an HIA, which gave replacement wing, Rob Lyttle, his first taste of Ulster action since 2023 after signing a short term deal as emergency injury cover.
The English Premiership side’s second try arrived on 14 minutes, when Italian No8 Ross Vintcent picked up from the base of a ruck deep in his own half sprinted through a gap going all the way to score. Haydon-Wood couldn’t add the extras.
Ulster spring into life on 20 minutes, opening their account following a sustained period of pressure in the Exeter 22.
The forwards probed at the line before lock, Cormac Izuchukwu, celebrated his call up to the Ireland Six Nations squad by diving over from close range, with scrum half Nathan Doak slotting over the conversion.
The scores were level on 26 minutes as David McCann got Ulster’s second try. His former RBAI school mate and Exeter scrum half Niall Armstrong took too long to clear the ball from a ruck which gave Ulster a scrum penalty.
The forwards then had a couple of darts at the line before McCann barged over for an unconverted try.
The Chiefs however regained the lead four minutes later as lock Rusi Tuima powered over from close range for an unconverted try.
Parity was restored again on 37 minutes, when the powerful Nick Timoney got the ball on the Exeter 10 metre line and set off on a rampaging run, breaking a couple of tackles to touch down in the corner.
Doak couldn’t land the touch line conversion, and the sides went into the interval tied at 17 all.
HT: 17-17
Ulster’s bonus point try came eight minutes after the restart. The pack won a scrum penalty and fly-half, Jack Murphy, nudged the ball into the corner.
The forwards set up a powerful driving maul from the line to propel hooker Rob Herring over, with Doak adding the conversion.
Izuchukwu bagged a second try on 66 minutes, Ulster moving the ball at pace down the right flank before cutting infield. The lock took a crash ball from John Cooney to go over from short range.
Cooney landed the conversion.
Ben Carson was next to put his name on the score sheet with a superb solo effort on 66 minutes.
Jude Postlewaite and Michael Lowry combined to put the centre into space, Carson side stepped the last defender to run in unopposed with Cooney adding the extras.
McCann added his second try on 70 minutes. Ulster were camped on the Chiefs line before Cooney threw a long looping pass to the No8 to dot down in the corner. The replacement scrum half added the conversion.
In a frantic finish, Izuchukwu completed his hat-trick with a simple run-in which Cooney converted but it was the Chiefs that had the final say as replacement Zack Wimbush was gifted a try which Harvey Skinner converted.
Ulster now wait until Sunday to learn their European fate but can be pleased with the eight try effort at home.
Scores
Ulster
Tries: Cormac Izuchukwu x 3, David McCann x 2, Nick Timoney, Rob Herring, Ben Carson
Cons: Nathan Doak x2, John Cooney
Pens
Exeter Chiefs
Tries: Paul Brown-Bampoe, Ross Vintcent, Ross Tuima, Zack Winbush
Cons: Will Haydon-Wood, Harvey Skinner
Pens
Teams
Ulster:
(15-9) S Moore; W Kok, B Carson, J Postlethwaite, M Lowry; J Murphy, N Doak;
(1-8) E O'Sullivan, R Herring, S Wilson; I Henderson (capt), C Izuchukwu; J McNabney, N Timoney, D McCann.
Replacements:
C Reid for O’Sullivan 60 mins, T Stewart for Herring 57 mins, C Barrett for Wilson 66, H Sheridan for McNabney 70 mins, K Treadwell for Henderson 57 mins, J Cooney for Doak 57 mins, J Flannery for Moore 49 mins, R Lyttle for Kok 3 mins
Exeter Chiefs:
(15-9) H Skinner; B Hammersley, J Hawkins, W Rigg, P Brown-Bampoe; W Haydon-Wood, N Armstrong;
(1-8) W Goodrick-Clarke, J Innard (capt), J Isoefa-Scott; R Tuima, C Tshiunza; M Moloney, R Capstick, R Vintcent.
Replacements:
Max Norey for Innard 49 mins, K Blose for Goodrick-Clarke 49 mins, J Roots for Isoefa-Scott 49 mins, J Dunne for Tuima 52 mins, L Pearson for Vintcent 63 mins , J Bailey for Tshiunza 71 mins, T Cairns for Armstrong 55 mins, Z Wimbush for Rigg 63 mins
Ref Hollie Davidson (SRU)
