Ulster 52-24 Harlequins: Irish province plunder in six tries at the Kingspan Stadium

Stuart McCloskey was among the try scorers as Ulster destroyed Harlequins

A six-try 52-24 victory for Ulster over Harlequins at the Kingspan in Belfast on Friday night leaves the Irish province well placed to make a charge for the quarter-finals out of Champions Cup Pool 1. 

Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy, Charles Piutau, Alan O'Connor, John Cooney and Andrew Trimble all crossed for tries in the dominant bonus-point victory.

Quins scored four tries of their own through Marcus Smith, Charlie Walker, Ross Chisholm and Dave Ward.

Ulster fly-half Christian Lealiifano put in an outstanding display to take the man-of-the-match award, while scrum-half Cooney contributed 27 points to the victory.

Jacob Stockdale was the architect for a number of Ulster scores

Two early Cooney penalties put Ulster into the ascendancy before Smith dove over for the opening score of the game to cut the gap to 6-5.

Ulster responded on 18 minutes when McCloskey crossed after reaching a superb Lealiifano kick over the top with the outside of his right boot, hacking on and just touching down before the dead-ball line.

Quins were next to respond through Walker, after he stepped in off his wing and accelerated superbly to dive under the sticks. Smith's conversion cut Ulster's lead to 13-12 on the half hour.

Cooney knocked over another penalty on 33 minutes as Quins were penalised for offside, but it was the away side who finished the half the stronger, failing to make the most of three decent spells and opportunities in the Ulster 22.

Craig Gilroy went over for the most crucial score of the match just after half-time

Four minutes into the second half and Ulster scored perhaps the most important try of the game through Gilroy, and what an effort it was.

The Ulster wing finished well in the corner but only after some magnificent build-up play from Lealiifano and Jacob Stockdale, both of whom pulled the Quins defence across both sides of the pitch before striking. Cooney's brilliant conversion from out wide made the score 23-12.

After 56 minutes, that lead was stretched to 31-12 after another Cooney penalty and then a Piutau try from close range, once again created by Stockdale via an incisive arching break.

Quins were next to strike though Chisholm, after he fended away O'Connor and rounded Cooney to slide over in the corner with Piutau down injured.

Ulster pulled away in the second period in an ultra-clinical performance

But Ulster's bonus point was soon secured as after Kyle Sinckler recklessly got himself put into the sin-bin for a clear off-the-ball hit on Stockdale, second row O'Connor scrambled over following yet another Stockdale break.

Quins' skipper for the night Ward was next to score, earning them a bonus point as he sprinted to the line after the ball squirted out of the ruck, but Ulster then scored their fifth try through Cooney after a Smith missed tackle let him in.

The scoring was complete in the final play of the game as after Mike Brown knocked on under his own sticks with virtually his first touch, Ulster shifted the ball wide to Trimble off the scrum for an easy finish.

Cooney, magnificent with the boot off the tee and in general play all evening, converted once more to rack up 52 points.