Late Ulster fightback but URC opener ends in defeat against Edinburgh
Ulster’s United Rugby Championship campaign got off to a disappointing 34-29 defeat against Edinburgh at Ravenhill.
Richie Murphy’s side almost produced a stunning comeback after trailing 34-5 going into the final quarter.
Ulster scored 24 unanswered points but couldn’t find the winning score in the dying minutes so forced to settle for two match points.
Despite the courageous fightback, Ulster have now only won three of their last 11 league games.
Ulster, on four minutes, were caught offside in midfield but Edinburgh out half Jamie Grayson’s penalty struck the upright.
Ulster gifted Edinburgh the opening score as the visitors put a probing kick behind the defence to force a five-metre lineout.
Ulster hooker James McCormick tried an ambitious overthrow to the back but his opposite number Harri Morris read the play and intercepted, the Edinburgh forwards had a series of drives at the Ulster line before openside flanker Freddie Douglas crashed over from a metre with Grayson adding the conversion.
The Edinburgh out half was on target again two minutes latter as he added a penalty when James McNabney infringed at the ruck.
Ulster opened their account on 25 minutes with a rare move into the Edinburgh 22 as quick hands created an overlap on the right wing and new signing Jamie Benson put pace on a pass to send captain Mike Lowry clear to go over unopposed.
But out half Jack Murphy couldn’t convert from a difficult angle.
Ulster gave away a penalty from the restart and Grayson made no mistake off the tee.
Edinburgh extended their lead with a try in the final minute of the first half when Grayson put a kick behind the home defence. McNabney tried to block it but the ball bounced favourably for flanker Liam McConnell and he released winger Malelili Satala to sprint over unopposed.
Grayson’s conversion gave the side from the Scottish capital a 20-5 lead at the break.
Edinburgh stunned the home crowd with two tries in the first seven minutes of the second half.
Running the ball from deep, fast hands put Satala clear – he stepped in off his wing before delivering a perfectly-weighted pass which sent scrum half Hector Patterson clear to run under the posts, with Grayson converting.
Some weak tackling in the Ulster defence allowed Patterson to soar through a gap and surge into the 22, the scrum half pivoted out of a tackle to provide the scoring pass for full back Piers O’Conor to dash under the sticks as Grayson tapped over the simple conversion.
The comeback started on 56 minutes, with a penalty advantage coming Benson threw a long pass to replacement hooker Henry Walker, he was stopped short of the line but Zac Ward picked up and went over as Murphy added the touch line conversion.
David McCann finished off a slick move in the corner with Murphy converting.
The home side scored a third try in eight minutes as replacement prop Keynan Knox rumbled over on his debut for Ulster’s bonus point try.
Murphy reduced the Edinburgh lead to five points with seven minutes remaining with a penalty after a high tackle on Ward in midfield.
Ulster had chances in the closing stages, but a mixture of inaccuracy and good Edinburgh defence saw the visitors leave with the victory.
ULSTER: (15-9) M Lowry, R Baloucoune, B Carson, J Benson, A Arenzana-King, J Murphy, C McKee; (1-8) E O’Sullivan, J McCormack, E Bello, E Snyman, B Donnell, D McCann, M Moloney, J McNabney.
Replacements: H Walker for 48 mins, T McAllister for O’Sullivan 61 mins, K Knox for Bello 49 mins, H Sheridan for Doneell 73 mins, J McKillop for McNabney 61 mins, M Devine for McKee 43 mins, J Flannery for Lowry 39 minutes, Z Ward for Baloucoune 43 mins
EDINBURGH: (15-9) P O’Conor, M Satala, M Currie (c capt), K Higgins, G Gwynn, J Grayson, H Patterson; (1-8) A Hepburn, H Morris, P Hill, C Hunter-Hill, G Young, L McConnell, F Douglas, M Bradbury
Replacements: J Blyth-Lafferty for Morris 60 mins, J Whitcombe for Hepburn 79 mins, D’ Rae Hill 50 mins, E McVie for Hunter-Hill 69 mins, T Currie for Bradbury 55mins, C McApline for Patterson 73 mins, C Scott, R McHaffie for Gwynn 60 mins
Referee: F Vedovelli (FIR)