Champions Cup round-up: Northampton Saints continue unbeaten streak with win over Bulls, Leicester Tigers thrash Sharks

Northampton Saints continued their unbeaten start in the Champions Cup as they recorded a 30-21 win over South African outfit Bulls at Loftus Versfeld. Tommy Freeman was the two-try hero, and it was his second score that secured the points. Elsewhere, Ulster collapsed to another heavy defeat against Bordeaux, while Leicester made light work of Sharks at Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium.

Tommy Freeman scored twice as Northampton Saints maintained their perfect start in Pool 3 of the Champions Cup with a 30-21 victory over Bulls.

The contest burst into life in the 35th minute when George Hendy got on the end of a Fin Smith offload to score the opening try.

Marcell Coetzee crossed for Bulls moments later, but Saints were 12-7 ahead at the break despite Emmanuel Iyogun's yellow card thanks to a try from Juarno Augustus.

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Smith kicked a penalty after half-time to make it 15-7, before Freeman's first score extended their advantage to 15 points.

However, Cameron Hanekom went over in the 62nd minute to get Bulls back in the game.

Hanekom added a second with ten minutes remaining to make Saints sweat, but another Smith penalty gave the Gallagher Premiership side some breathing room.

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Freeman's second try of the match wrapped up an impressive win.

Elsewhere, Bordeaux Begles racked up a comfortable 40-19 victory over Ulster in Pool 1. 

The Irish side had been up 19-14 with 60 minutes played, but they capitulated in the final 20 minutes to fall to another defeat after their 61-21 drubbing by Toulouse last week. 

Tries from Cormac Izuchukwu, Nick Timoney and Werner Kok had the hosts up deservedly after an excellent first-half performance, but the French side went over four times in the final 20 – three in the last 10 minutes – to turn the game on its head. 

Damian Penaud, Guido Petti and Louis Bielle-Biarrey all dotted down, with Ugo Boniface adding the icing on the cake. Tevita Tatafu had put the visitors ahead in the second minute, before a first-half penalty try completed their scoring in the first period. 

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Video credit: TNT Sports

Leicester Tigers thrashed Sharks at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, with Julian Montoya scoring twice, and Ollie Hassell-Collins, Solomone Kata, Handre Pollard, Jack van Poortvliet, Charlie Clare and Emeka Ilione adding to the tally in a huge 56-17 victory for Michael Cheika’s side. Vincent Tshituka and Siya Masuku crossed the whitewash for the South African side. 

Leinster recorded a tight victory over Clermont at the Aviva Stadium, edging past their French opponents 15-7. 

Garry Ringrose and Jordie Barrett scored for the home side, and Sam Prendergast added a penalty to overcome Christophe Urios' tricky visitors.

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