**Ulster missed out on a place in the European Rugby Challenge Cup final as they were beaten 33-24 by Leicester Tigers in an enthralling clash at Welford Road.** Tigers wiped out an 11-point interval deficit to book a place against Bath or Montpellier in the Twickenham final on May 21 after England fly-half George Ford put on an impressive display. For half the contest, it looked like Leicester would go the same way as Harlequins and Northampton as Ulster chased a hat-trick of wins against English Premiership clubs in Europe this season. But with British and Irish Lions assistant coaches Gregor Townsend and Steve Tandy conducting a watching brief ahead of next Thursday’s South Africa tour squad announcement, Leicester rallied well.
