Five-eighth Paddy Jackson guided Ulster to a hard-fought victory over English giants Leicester in the opening round of rugby’s European Cup on Friday, but there was a fright for Saracens at the hands of Connacht.

Jackson hit five penalties and a conversion for 17 points as the Irish province clung on to win 22-16, Leicester snatching a bonus point at the death.

Leicester’s Logovi’i Mulipola was the recipient of an excellent Daniel Bowden pass after an earlier Toby Flood break, and the Samoan prop crashed over for the opening try after seven minutes at Ravenhill.

In a hard-hitting opening quarter, Ulster came firing back, winger Tommy Bowe outleaping Leicester fullback Niall Morris to get on the end of a perfect Jackson cross-kick.

Flood banged over a 20th-minute penalty to reinstall the visitors’ lead, only for Jackson to reply in kind 10 minutes later.

After a Tigers’ infringement following a sharp break by scrum-half Paul Marshall, Jackson kicked a second penalty on the stroke of halftime.

Flood levelled the scored four minutes into the second period with his second penalty.

Jackson then missed a straightforward pot at goal, but calmed home nerves with one in the 59th minute to take Ulster out to 16-13.

With handling errors to the fore, Jackson added two more penalties.

Replacement Owen Williams missed a drop-goal but nailed a penalty with three minutes remaining that gifted Leicester an invaluable bonus point in a pool that also includes in-form French club Montpellier and Italians Treviso.

One of the big favourites for this year’s tournament, Saracens, were given an almighty scare at Connacht.

Connacht, coached by former Samoan No.8 Pat Lam held Saracens to 17-17 at halftime.

American centre Chris Wyles and England winger Chris Ashton scored an early brace for Saracens, both converted by Owen Farrell, who also booted a penalty.

But Australian-born ex-Scotland fly-half Dan Parks kicked a penalty and then converted tries by scrum-half Kieran Marmion and South African winger Danie Poolman to keep Connacht very much in the game.

Only two Farrell penalties in a tight second half separated the teams, with Saracens next up against Toulouse, who picked up a bonus point in a four-try 38-5 mauling of Italians Zebre.