Ulster send Ronan O'Gara's La Rochelle packing in first Challenge Cup quarter

Zac Ward scored a brace of tries as Ulster booked their place in the Investec Challenge Cup semi-finals with a dominant 41-24 win over La Rochelle under stormy conditions at the Affidea Stadium.

Ulster got out to a blistering start from a well-worked early lineout as Tom Stewart found Ward, who slipped past the Rochelle defence to open the scoring.

Scrum-half Nathan Doak – who finished the match with nine points – added a penalty before Diego Jurd clawed back one of his own for the visitors, and it was 15-3 after Tom O’Toole crossed the whitewash two minutes later.

Ward was then sent to the sin bin, but Ulster were nevertheless able to extend their advantage when Cormac Izuchukwu made it over the line with a 36th-minute try.

The home side responded again before the break as Judicael Cancoriet crossed over and the score stood at 24-10 at half-time.

Zac Ward, Bryn Ward and James McCormick added to Ulster’s score after the break, when tries from Tolu Latu and Joel Sclavi were not enough to make a difference for La Rochelle.