Ulster put end to Edinburgh’s home run

ULSTER bounced back from their defeat to Munster with a battling victory over Edinburgh last night to go fifth in the table.

They had to deal with injuries and two yellow cards, but Dan McFarland’s men became the first away team to win at the DAM Health Stadium this season.

Edinburgh failed to make early pressure tell and Robert Baloucoune’s try turned the game in the visitors’ favour.

The boot of Nathan Doak kept Ulster in control until Mark Bennett touched down after his own chip over the defence. But Ulster held on in the final 10 to end a three-game losing run.

James Lang was forced off injured early and his Edinburgh team mate Stuart McInally (HIA) and Ulster duo Iain Henderson and Stuart McCloskey also left the field injured in a bizarre opening.

McInally had been involved in the fifth minute incident which had seen him hit high in the tackle by Ulster’s Nick Timoney.

The back rower was yellow carded by referee Ben Whitehouse, but just before he returned to the field the shorthanded visitors took the lead.

It came through a 13th minute try by Baloucoune out wide, Doak converting to make it 7-0. Doak then added penalties in the 19th and 33rd minutes and Ulster were 13-0 up and in control.

Just before the interval Edinburgh’s first points came from Emiliano Boffelli’s boot and it was a 10-point game.

Eight minutes into the second half Doak kicked his third penalty to make it 16-3.

Ulster replacement Alan O’Connor then took one for the team, the forward yellow carded after a build-up of team offences in the 52nd minute.

Edinburgh knocked and knocked at the door when he was off, but no points were scored before he returned.

A converted try did come with 11 minutes to go through Bennett, but Ulster’s defence stood firm in the dramatic closing stages.