Ulster cruise past Castres to secure bonus point

Tries from Andrew Trimble, Ruan Pienaar and a brace from Paul Marshall was enough for an Ulster side who dominated the contest throughout.

Following first-half tries from Trimble and Marshall, the visitors briefly rallied with a try from Marc Andreu, but Marshall’s second try of the game in the second half gave the Ulstermen a 31-10 lead, ending the game as a contest and leaving only the matter of the bonus point to be decided.

And the home side were rewarded in injury-time when Pienaar went over with a long-range effort to secure the crucial extra point.

Youngster Paddy Jackson, who famously had a nightmare in last season’s Heineken Cup final defeat to Leinster, showed he has recovered from that harrowing experience with a fine display capped off by three conversions and five penalties.