Rugby Celtic League, Ulster 36 Edinburgh 34: Ulster held out for their second home win of the season in the Celtic League in a pulsating game at Ravenhill where both sides each scored four tries.
It was a game Ulster should have won after the first quarter, but Edinburgh never gave up and made Mark McCall's side work hard for their victory.
The home side created the first score of the game when full back Bryn Cunningham cut through and released winger Tommy Bowe, but he failed to see Paul Steinmetz on his shoulder and Edinburgh were able to clear. David Humphreys opened Ulster's attack with a penalty on eight minutes as the visitors strayed offside at a ruck.
Once again poor handling cost Ulster's a try-scoring opportunity as Kevin Maggs broke through the Scottish side's defence. He off-loaded to his midfield partner Steinmetz, but Roger Wilson knocked on the Kiwi's pass.
Maggs got the first try in the 16th minute after a great move by the Ulster backs. Bowe fielded a poor kick in midfield, the ball was recycled and Humphreys exchanged passes with Maggs, who then fed Steinmetz. He, in turn, found Tyrone Howe who was stopped short, but Maggs powered over from the ruck. Humphreys failed to add the conversion.
A second try followed seven minutes later as Cunningham took advantage of a defensive mix-up. Ulster moved the ball wide and Howe put in a kick which Derrick Lee missed and Cunningham hacked on and won the race to get the touch down.
Despite being 13-0 up, Ulster went in at half-time knowing Edinburgh finished the first period the stronger.
Paul Boston started the Edinburgh fight-back with a try from a scrum. The first drive was stopped and from second phase possession the centre found a huge gap in the home defence and went under the posts with Brendan Laney converting.
The Scottish international reduced the Ulster lead to three points with a penalty and he levelled the scores four minutes before the break with another kick from a tight angle.
Humphreys restored the lead two minutes after the re-start with his second penalty.
Edinburgh took the lead as Ulster tried to force the play, but Allister Hogg picked off a wild Humphreys pass and raced under the posts from his half leaving Laney the simple conversion.
Humphreys added his second penalty in 57 minutes after a sustained period of pressure.
Steinmetz took over the kicking duty after Humphreys missed a simple penalty and the Kiwi was successful with his first attempt.
Edinburgh again took advantage of more poor Ulster defending to score a third try. Howe went for an interception, but the visitors exploited the gap on the blind side and Ben McDougall put Lee Over with Laney converting.
Almost immediately Ulster regained the lead and Steinmetz broke through, drew the cover and put Bowe over in the corner. The former Wellington hurricane added the conversion.
Skipper Campbell Feather secured Ulster's bonus point with six minutes left. They opted to kick a penalty into touch and from the resulting lineout the forwards drove Feather over with Steinmetz converting.
Edinburgh scored a fourth try with two minutes left. They took a five-metre scrum against the head and David Callam went over with Laney converting to set up a nervous finish for Ulster.
SCORERS - Ulster: Tries: Maggs, Steinmetz, Bowe, Feather. Cons: Bowe 2. Pens: Humphreys 3, Steinmetz. Edinburgh: Tries: Boston, Hogg, Lee, Callam. Cons: Laney 4. Pens: Laney 2.
ULSTER: B Cunningham; T Bowe, K Maggs, P Steinmetz, T Howe; B Humphries, K Campbell; R McCormack, P Shields, R Moore, G Longwell, M McCullough, C Feather, G Pfister, R Wilson. Replacements: R Best for Shields (44), S Best for Moore (50), Frost for Pfister (67).
EDINBURGH: B Lee; M Pyke, M Dirollo, P Boston, H Southwell; B Laney, M Blair; G Anderson, D Hall, S Smith, A Kellock, S Murray, A Strokosch, A McDonald, A Hogg. Replacements: Godman for Lee (70), MacDougall for Pyke (56), Dickinson for Anderson (21), Callam for Hogg (62).
Referee: S Davey (IRFU).
