Ulster 16 Edinburgh 10:A win for Ulster sealed fifth place in the Magners Celtic League and a second-seed ranking for the Heineken European Cup next season but this was far from the convincing performance coach Mark McCall would have wanted to finish a disappointing season that had promised so much.
Six defeats in their last 10 league games crippled Ulster's hopes of retaining their title and they will need much soul-searching to determine the cause of their recent slump.
Against an Edinburgh side missing 16 players to injury, Ulster's victory was only made secure with a penalty by Paddy Wallace one minute from time.
The first half had seen Andrew Maxwell race in for a superb try, Wallace converting and slotting two penalties to give the home side a 13-3 lead at the break.
But Edinburgh dragged themselves back into the match with a try by Scott Murray, converted by Duncan Hodge, who had also landed a first-half penalty.
Conditions made life difficult for both sides. Ulster made the livelier start, a tapped free kick by Isaac Boss sending Roger Wilson and Rory Best charging at the Edinburgh defence.
When Tommy Bowe was impeded while chasing a chip through by Wallace, the outhalf slotted a sixth-minute penalty.
Edinburgh responded with vigour but struggled to get into the danger zone. A long-range drop-goal effort by Duncan Hodge was as close as they got.
Then, from nowhere, the home side struck with a wonderful counterattack by Wallace from his own line, Bowe providing the support and Andy Maxwell the devastating finish from the half-way line in the 17th minute.
Wallace converted to put Ulster 10 points clear.
A moment of indiscipline at a ruck on halfway by Neil Best allowed Hodge a long-range shot at goal and he converted superbly to cut the deficit to seven points.
Ulster regained the edge at the start of the second half, a barnstorming charge by Stephen Ferris almost creating a try and a Wallace penalty hitting the bar.
Edinburgh reduced the gap to just three points with a converted try by Scott Murray, who barged over from a five-metre scrum, Hodge adding the extras before Wallace's late strike sealed it.
SCORING: 6 mins:P Wallace pen, 3-0; 17:A Maxwell try, Wallace con, 10-0; 31:D Hodge pen, 10-3; 34:Wallace pen, 13-3; 60:S Murray try, Hodge con, 13-10; 79:Wallace pen, 16-10.
ULSTER:T Bowe; P McKenzie, A Trimble, P Steinmetz, A Maxwell; P Wallace, I Boss; B Young, R Best, S Best; J Harrison, T Barker; N Best, S Ferris, R Wilson. Replacements:J Fitzpatrick for Young (56 mins).
EDINBURGH:A Monro; L Lopez Fleming, B Cairns, R Dewey, A Turnbull; D Hodge, G Laidlaw; A Jacobsen, D Hall, A Dickinson; F Pringle, S Murray; S Taylor, R Rennie, A Hogg. Replacements:A Strokosch for Taylor (27-39 mins), P Jorgensen for Monro (40 mins), A MacDonald for Rennie (47 mins), J Senio for Laidlaw (52 mins), G Cross for Dickinson (65 mins), A Strokosch for Pringle (69 mins).
Referee: N Owens(WRU).
