Edinburgh dial up heat to outclass Ulster
AN impressive second-half performance from Edinburgh brought them a first victory in Belfast since 2018.
Ulster managed to take two points from their second successive loss to Scottish opposition thanks to James Hume’s injury-time try.
However, strong showings from Jamie Ritchie and Ben Healy, the Edinburgh fly-half kicking 12 points, gave Edinburgh the upper hand with tries scored by Ben Vellacott, Pierre Schoeman and Robin Hislop.
Tom Stewart scored two tries for Ulster, with Robert Baloucoune also touching down before Hume’s late score. Ulster opened the scoring after five minutes when Stewart smashed over and through Vellacott after peeling off a maul. John Cooney converted to put Ulster 7-0 in front.
However, following a scrum penalty against the hosts, Healy landed a long-range penalty to cut the led to four points.
On 24 minutes, Edinburgh launched a dynamic attack off a penalty which resulted in skipper Vellacott reaching over the Ulster line after good approach work by Schoeman and Jamie Hodgson. Healy converted and the Scots led 10-7.
The half ended when Edinburgh secured a penalty following a lineout turnover, Healy slotting the straightforward chance from the tee to put the visitors back in front at the break by 13-12.
Hume then got over the line after a huge amount of Ulster pressure, but the score was ruled out after Baloucoune was adjudged to have juggled the ball forward.
After absorbing a huge period of Ulster pressure, Edinburgh lifted the siege and when visiting the home team’s 22, Schoeman drove over from close range after some close-in drives. Healy converted and Edinburgh went 20-12 up.
Their lead could have been increased when James Lang got over in the corner only for the score to be ruled out due to a foot in touch.
But the visitors came again and after a sweeping move up the middle with the ball spread left and right, replacement Hislop surged over, again from close range. Healy converted, giving Edinburgh a 27-12 advantage.
Ulster had to respond and did so with just seven minutes left when Stewart put Baloucoune over, but Nathan Doak was unable to convert.
Ulster were then reduced to 14 when Ben Moxham was stretchered off – there were no subs left to bring on – but then so were Edinburgh when Harry Patterson was shown yellow in the 77th minute.
Hume struck with the last play to earn Ulster two points – a try bonus and narrow defeat – the final act being Doak’s conversion.
ULSter: W Addison, R Baloucoune, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale (B Moxham 66), B Burns, J Cooney (N Doak 50), S Kitshoff (A Warwick 60), T Stewart (J Andrew 74) T O’Toole, A O’Connor (c), K Treadwell (C Izuchukwu 75), M Rea (D Ewers 55), N Timoney, J McNabney (D Ewers 50-55).
SCorerS – tries: Stewart 2, Baloucoune, Hume; Cons: Cooney, Doak. eDinBUrGh: T Swiel, H Paterson, M Currie, J Lang, W Goosen, B Healy, B Vellacott (A Price 60), P Schoeman (R Hislop 65), E Ashman (A McBurney 65), WP Nel (J Sebastian 55), M Sykes, J Hodgson (G Young 55), L Crosbie (H Watson 55), J Ritchie, V Mata.
SCorerS – tries: Vellacott, Schoeman, Hislop;
Healy 3; Pens: Healy 2. referee: Federico Vedovelli.