Ulster 45-20 Edinburgh: Dominant Ulster remain undefeated

ONLY a few months ago, these two sides were locked in a tight contest for a place in the Heineken Cup final. Ulster edged that battle and tonight duly finished the first segment of this season with a 100 per cent return from nine games in all competitions.

In stark contrast, Edinburgh’s campaign is in deep trouble as they slumped to their seventh successive defeat.

The Irish province’s performance was not one of their best but, as they have done on several other occasions this season, they won by a big margin without getting into top gear as Michael Bradley’s side failed to turn up in the second half after some even exchanges in the first period.

The visitors had given the home side some concern in the opening ten minutes when they scored the game’s opening try and led 10-3. However, in the space of seven minutes during a purple patch at the end of the first half, Ulster scored three tries to go in 24-17 at the interval. Edinburgh did kick an early second-half penalty but that was to prove their only further scoring contribution to proceedings.

Three more tries followed from Ulster, with stand-off Ruan Pienaar scoring 17 of his side’s eventual 45 points.

Ulster began the match with good tempo in a scrappy opening ten minutes, which saw mistakes from both sides.

Edinburgh quickly tested rookie fullback, Ricky Andrew – making his competitive debut for Ulster – but he was up to the early challenges.

The home side’s early decision making was poor, meaning there was little or no momentum to their game and the first meaningful attack of the game came on ten minutes for Edinburgh. Scrum-half Chris Leck and winger Lee Jones threatened on the right, but Paddy Wallace made a good tackle and Ulster forced a scrum 15 metres from their own line.

However, a fumble from scrum-half Paul Marshall saw Leck pounce and lock Rob McAlpine drove on before ball was moved quickly from the ruck to the far right where winger Tom Brown got the touchdown, confirmed by the TMO.

Stand-off Gregor Hunter converted to leave the large Ravenhill crowd somewhat quiet and their worries increased while watching Pienaar leave the field injured with blood pouring down his face. Niall O’Connor replaced him temporarily and opened the home account with a regulation penalty to make it 7-3. However, Edinburgh capitalised on further Ulster mistakes and a penalty opportunity from long range on the right was duly despatched by Hunter after 21 minutes.

The reaction from Ulster was one of direct action. Pienaar returned to combat and instigated one attack on the left which almost got openside Mike McComish away on the left.

Roger Wilson, making second Ulster debut – his 118th overall appearance for the club after a four-year stint with Northampton Saints – announced his return from a lengthy injury absence with two barnstorming breaks.

From one, Ulster pressed and Jared Payne’s grubber kick almost put winger Chris Cochrane through, Edinburgh’s Brown getting a hand in just in front to deny the try. But at the scrum, Ulster drove Edinburgh back over their own line, they infringed and Nigel Owens had no hesitation in awarding the penalty try, which Pienaar converted to draw Ulster level after 28 minutes.

Moments later Paul Marshall fielded a high ball, made a break and gave to Paddy Wallace who in turn released Gilroy to tear down the flank. The wing timed his pass perfectly to Payne and he raced under the posts, Pienaar goaling to swing the game to the home side at 17-10 on 30 minutes. Four minutes later, a Pienaar charge down saw him score under the posts and convert to make it

24-10.

Edinburgh, though, capitalised on some poor defending from the Ulstermen, Brown going in for his second try and Hunter converting to leave them still in the hunt at the interval.

Hunter added the first points of the second half, a penalty from the touchline which went over assisted by the right pole to leave just four points between the sides. However, Ulster soon reasserted their superiority and, when Robbie Diack, a first-half replacement for Lewis Stevenson, led another drive Edinburgh were penalised. The quick tap penalty looked to have been fluffed initially, but the ball became alive and quick hands from Gilroy saw No 8 Wilson over in the corner – confirmed by the TMO – and Ulster had the try scoring bonus point secured.

Pienaar just showed his class with a simple nudge over from the touchline to extend the lead to 31-20. Just after the hour, Ulster turned down another penalty and took the scrum option. Ball was moved swiftly out and Payne charge through for his second try of the evening, dotting down under the sticks for Pienaar to bag the simple extras and it was 38-20.

Gilroy finished off the rout in the final minute when he chased up a Pienaar kick, rounded Edinburgh captain Sean Cox for the sixth try of the evening which, Pienaar converted.

Ulster: R Andrew; C Cochrane, J Payne, P Wallace, C Gilroy; R Pienaar, P Marshall; C Black, N Brady (capt), J Afoa, L Stevenson, N McComb, S Ferris, M McComish, R Wilson.

Replacements: N Annett, R Lutton, A Macklin, R Diack, N Williams, N O’Connor, S Olding, P Nelson.

Edinburgh : G Tonks, L Jones, J Houston, J King, T Brown, G Hunter, C Leck, J Yapp, A Titterrell, W Nel, G Gilchrist, R McAlpine, S Cox (capt), R Grant, S McInally.

Replacements: A Walker, A Jacobsen, L Niven, van der Westhuizen, Watson, Rees, Fife, S Visser.