Edinburgh 21 Ulster 16:ULSTER'S MAGNERS League challenge was put into reverse last night here when Edinburgh produced a second-half performance to take the honours.
In wet conditions, Ulster’s pack appeared to hold all the cards and certainly their powerful performance in the second quarter suggested they were massively in the ascendant. Edinburgh, however, no doubt after a stiff half-time talk, shook off their torpor to play a much more energetic game.
Ulster should have capitalised on an error-strewn start to the game by Edinburgh that gave the visitors an immediate chance of points, only for outhalf Paddy Wallace to miss with his kick at goal.
At the other end Edinburgh’s David Blair was also wide, with a drop goal attempt. The ball, however, touched an Ulster hand giving Edinburgh a five-metre scrum from which they moved the ball quickly setting up phase ball for lock Fraser McKenzie, arriving at speed, to crash over.
A powerful run by Adam D’Arcy put Ulster in a good position but the dividend, a penalty by Wallace, was not perhaps all the visitors wanted from their territorial gain.
Ulster’s three points were cancelled by a similar effort from fullback Chris Paterson for a post-tackle offence.
Ulster showed their attacking ability with a multi-phase attack that twice featured number eight Robbie Diack. Andrew Trimble looked to be the beneficiary, but a fine piece of defence stopped him a metre from the line. But when the ball was worked to the left Ian Whitten found room to run in for a score, Wallace’s conversion giving the visitors the lead for the first time.
A 43rd-minute penalty by Wallace opened a five-point gap. But Edinburgh responded, a forward drive released number eight Netani Talei. He was stopped at the line but when the ball was recycled he dived through a heap of players to claim his side’s second try, converted by Paterson.
Edinburgh got a penalty goal by Paterson after replacement hooker Andi Kyriacou held on to the ball after the tackle.
Replacement Ian Humphreys kicked a 45-metre penalty to bring Ulster within two after a foul by Edinburgh’s Kyle Traynor that earned the prop a yellow card.
It should have meant a big advantage for Ulster but instead it was Edinburgh who claimed the crucial next points with a neat drop goal from outhalf David Blair.
EDINBURGH: C Paterson; J Thompson, B Cairns, J King (A Grove 56), T Visser; D Blair, G Laidlaw; A Jacobsen (K Traynor 56), A Kelly, G Cross (D Young 49), S MacLeod, F McKenzie, A MacDonald (S Newlands 56), R Rennie, N Talei.
ULSTER: A D’Arcy; M McCrea (I Humphreys 70), A Trimble, I Whitten, D McIlwaine; P Wallace, R Pienaar; P McAllister (T Court 56), R Best (A Kyriacou 47), BJ Botha (B Young 65), J Muller, D Tuohy, S Ferris, C Henry (P Wannenberg 65), R Diack.
Referee: J Jones (Wales).
