Edinburgh: 19 (19)
Tries: Thompson, Patterson, Goosen, Conversions: Thompson x2
Ulster: 40 (14)
Tries: Irvine, Augustus, Flannery, Wilson, McKee, Carson, Conversions: Murphy x5
Edinburgh welcomed Ulster to the Hive for the rearranged fixture that was postponed due to adverse weather conditions in round two of the URC.
The home side showed strength in the first 40 minutes but were overpowered by Ulster’s physicality and tenacity. Edinburgh were left scoreless in the second half as the visitors ran away with the score, despite both teams clocking red cards.
With Edinburgh missing their Scotland stars, a younger team was named with hooker Dylan Richardson making his first start for the club. Ulster head coach Richie Murphy called up academy prop Tom McAllister to make his professional debut.
Team Mouat were welcomed to deliver the match ball following their recent silver medal success in the curling at the Winter Olympics.
First Half
There was excitement right from kick off as Edinburgh’s No.8 Ben Muncaster stormed through the Ulster defence. He was illegally brought down by Ulster winger Zac Ward who was shown a yellow card. Using their advantage, Edinburgh’s Liam McConnell crossed the tryline but was held up. A second penalty advantage was played, and the referee went to TMO to confirm that no try was scored and Ulster regained possession.
Harry Patterson was next to break ulster’s line but was brought down in the 22. After some physical forward phases, fly half Ross Thompson scored and converted the first try of the game.
Ulster responded with high pressure in defence, winning a penalty in the Edinburgh 22. The forwards fired with immense physicality and Edinburgh matched the attack with dominant tackles. Ulster second row Charlie Irvine barged his way over for Ulster’s first points just before Ward returned from the bin.
In an early established game of cat and mouse, it was Harry Patterson who scored next as Edinburgh shipped the ball wide and the full back cut back on an inside line to score.
Ulster responded again but found themselves in touch on two separate attempts to score. On a third attempt they were turned over, and Edinburgh regained their lost territory. Edinburgh worked their way up the field through Boan Venter and Dylan Richardson, and winger Wes Goosen beat Werner Kok to score in the corner.
A second Ulster try was scored after the team worked their magic up the right wing through a series of offloads and footwork. It was ultimately No.8 Juarno Augustus to cross the line to shorten the lead of the home team.
Harry Patterson made another break and, after being brought down with a hand around the neck, Ben Vellacott took a quick tap to gain territory and get Edinburgh on the front foot in attack. As Edinburgh had a shot at scoring the ball was spilled forwards.
Half Time Score: Edinburgh 19 – 14 Ulster
Second Half:
After a slow start to the second half, Harry Sheridon was shown a yellow card for a cynical tackle and Edinburgh looked to their line out. They spilled the ball once again in a try scoring opportunity. Ulster were able to exit without pressure after winning the resultant scrum.
Ulster used their momentum to gain more territory, with full back Michael Lowrt making a break before spinning it wide to Ward who drew in Edinburgh’s winger Malelili Satala. Jake Flannery took the offload with space to run it in to score and bring Ulster level with Edinburgh with over 25 minutes to play.
The referee confirmed that Sheridon’s yellow card had been upgraded to red meaning Ulster would remain at 14 for a further 10 minutes and the lock would not return to the pitch.
Despite the upgraded card, Ulster maintained momentum. They gained on the Edinburgh try line but were turned over just short. Upon regaining possession, they returned to the opposition’s 22. The forwards chipped away at the Edinburgh defence, and it was replacement prop Scott Wilson who scored to put Ulster ahead for the first time in game.
Edinburgh showed too much eagerness to regain control of the game and replacement hooker Harri Morris wiped out Ulster flanker Cormac Izuchukwu as he was in the air to receive the restart. Morris’ mistiming cost him the rest of his game as he received a red card after being on the pitch for just four minutes.
Shortly after, Ulster returned to full strength through Joe Hopes. They were able to find the try line once again through Conor McKee. Ulster’s bench proved strong as a further visit to the Edinburgh 22 saw Ben Carson score under the posts. Edinburgh remained scoreless in the second half.
Final Score: Edinburgh 19 – 40 Ulster
Ulster No.8 Juarno Augustus was awarded player of the match.
Post Match
Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt expressed his disappointment in his team’s second half performance but took positives from the opening 40 minutes where Edinburgh matched Ulster’s physicality and took advantage of their opportunities to score.
He said: “When we got momentum, we looked good in attack with ball in hand. I think where they beat us was on the edges. We knew they were going to be dangerous there but to stop them from getting the ball there you’ve got to do the hard yards in the middle of the pitch.”
Edinburgh will welcome their Scotland players back next week before making the trip to South Africa to face the Lions on Saturday afternoon.
