Ulster engineered a deserved win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield this evening to move into second place in the Celtic League, with David Humpheys kicking 16 points.
The first incident of note saw Gunners full-back Francisco Leonelli felled by a head-high tackle close to halfway. The subsequent penalty allowed Edinburgh to pressurise the Ulster line but they failed to come away with any points.
To add to Edinburgh’s woes, Ulster proceeded to score from their first half-chance. Outhalf Humphreys snaffled a loose ball on the Edinburgh 10-metre line and seconds later left winger Andrew Maxwell was touching down.
Humphreys converted to put his side 7-0 ahead and then increased Ulster’s lead with a simple penalty matched two minutes later by a more difficult Duncan Hodge effort.
Simon Webster was then hauled down in the left-hand corner having been sent away after Phil Godman blocked a Humphreys kick.
The Edinburgh scrum was creaking but number eight Dave Callam managed to work the ball away and Rory Lawson won a penalty stroked home by Hodge.
Following a marvellous break from Ulster centre Andrew Trimble, Callam turned sinner with a professional foul.He was sin-binned and Ulster heaved the short-handed Edinburgh scrum over their line for Issac Boss to score with Humphreys converting.
Four minutes from the interval Hodge was presented with a chance to narrow the gap with a penalty but the kick went wide and Ulster turned with a 17-6 lead.
Edinburgh made a lively start to the second half and a try seemed certain when Matt Mustchin took a quick tap in the Ulster 22, but Webster dropped the ball just a metre from the line. Worse followed when Ulster, after nine minutes of the half, at last got up field to be awarded a penalty, goaled by Humphreys.
A third penalty by Hodge was immediately countered by Humphreys before Simon Best was sin-binned for stamping on Craig Smith. From the penalty Edinburgh pressurised the Ulster line until awarded a penalty try converted by Hodge to cut the score to 23-16.
However, Ulster immediately countered with Maxwell’s second try.
In a crazy climax Maxwell then found himself in the bin, Humphreys kicked a penalty and Hodge closed proceedings with a try he converted himself.
