MAGNIFICENT ULSTER ROAR INTO PLAY-OFFS
DAN McFARLAND’s Ulster revolution took another major step forward last night as the province booked their place in the play-offs by dismantling Edinburgh on their own turf. After losing badly in Glasgow last week with a strong team, Ulster were expected to feel the heat from an Edinburgh side that has taken hugely impressive strides under Richard Cockerill this seasons. However, the contest billed as a play-off showdown was very onesded as Ulster flew into their opponents from the off, seriously rattling the home side into errors with Jacob Stockdale impressing at 15. Tries from flanker Jordi Murphy, lightning quick wing Robert Baloucoune, fellow pace man Rob Lyttle and out-half Billy Burns wrapped up a bonus point that secures second spot in the conference and guarantees a home quarter-final. However, with one game left awat to Glasgow, Edinburgh’s play-off hopes are hanging by a thread after one of their worst displays under Cockerill. They will now need to beat the already qualified Glasgow and hope results got their way elsewhere to sneak into the knock-outs. For Ulster, the turnaround under McFarland has been extraordinary, given the low turmoil at the province in recent times, and after running Leinster so close in Europe, they look to have a squad with the self belief to land their first trophy since 2006. EDINBURGH: D Graham; D Hoyland (G Taylor 44), M Bennett, M Scott, D van der Merwe; J van der Walt (S Hickey 32), H Pyrgos (C Shiel 63); P Schoeman (A Dell 62), S McInally (capt, R Ford 67), WP Nel (S Berghan 45); B Toolis (C Hunter-Hill 67), G Gilchrist; M Bradbury (J Barclay 49), H Watson, V Mata. Scorers - Try: Barclay. Con: Hickey. ULSTER: J Stockdale; R Baloucoune (A Kernohan 49), L Marshall, S McCloskey, R Lyttle; B Burns (P Nelson 79), J Cooney (D Shanahan 79); E O’Sullivan (A Warwick 73), R Herring (J Andrew 79), M Moore; I Henderson (capt), K Treadwell (A O’Connor 62); N Timoney (S Reidy 67), J Murphy, M Coetzee. Scorers - Tries: Murphy, Baloucoune, Lyttle, Burns. Cons: Cooney (3). Pen: Cooney. Referee: N Owens (Wales).