High-flying Edinburgh edged out Ulster at BT Murrayfield to send the visitors home with the scant consolation of a losing bonus point.
Tries from Sean Reidy and his opposite number Hamish Watson – the Guinness Pro12 man of the match – were the highlights of an otherwise disappointing clash which saw Edinburgh retain their 100% record for 2015/16, and Ulster fall to their second consecutive defeat away from home.
Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall ran out for his 150th provincial cap in a starting XV featuring four personnel changes from the side that had demolished Benetton Treviso two weeks previously.
An unchanged back three comprised Louis Ludik at full-back with Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble on the wings, while centre Stuart McCloskey was partnered by Sam Arnold in the absence of Luke Marshall, victim of a thumb injury.
Peter Nelson continued at ten despite Ian Humphreys’ recovery from the hamstring injury which had ruled him out of the first three rounds, the out-half selected on the bench.
In the front row, Callum Black took over from Andrew Warwick at loosehead to join hooker Rob Herring and tighthead Wiehahn Herbst, while Franco van der Merwe returned to the second row to partner Dan Tuohy. In the back row, Nick Williams came in at number Eight with Roger Wilson and Reidy either side.
A lacklustre first half yielded a meagre nine points and little to fill an under-populated Murrayfield with any signs of animation.
Williams’ infraction as he went off his feet in the fifth minute let Edinburgh full-back Greig Tonks in for the first three points of the encounter, and with Trimble penalised five minutes later for a similar offence, the hosts went for touch, only to surrender possession at the lineout.
Edinburgh nonetheless continued to call the tune as the second quarter loomed, Tonks’ left boot extending their lead on 18 minutes as a frustrated Ulster gave away their fifth penalty.
A fine right-wing break from Marshall got Ulster into the home ‘22’ for the first time in as many minutes, earning a penalty which Nelson, assuming kicking duties in lieu of McCloskey, dispatched just inside the left upright.
Nimble footwork from Reidy set up the next Ulster attack, which saw them probe and pound for a good five minutes, but fail to breach the line and eventually lose possession to ubiquitous flanker Watson, impressive throughout with his ball-carrying and tackling.
Half-Time Score Edinburgh 6 Ulster 3
Trimble’s dynamic chip-and-chase jump-started the second half moments after the restart, Marshall scampering into the ‘22’ from a tap-penalty and Williams using all his bulk to secure a 50-50 ball and create the space for Reidy to stretch over for the try.
Nelson converted, and after some neat passing between forwards and backs, the Edinburgh riposte culminated with a well-deserved try for Watson off replacement Viliamu Helu’s pass from the left wing.
Three points to the good courtesy of Tonks’ conversion, Edinburgh failed to sustain any momentum from the restart, and Ulster had only themselves to blame as they eschewed three easy points on the hour mark to kick a penalty to touch, and subsequently lost the chance by failing to drive the maul straight.
Tonks punished the Ulster profligacy on 65 minutes with his third penalty, and although a further effort six minutes later screwed well wide, bullish Edinburgh defence – in particular from a rolling Ulster maul with seconds to go – ensured the six-point lead was enough to see the Scots home.
Tries from Sean Reidy and his opposite number Hamish Watson – the Guinness Pro12 man of the match – were the highlights of an otherwise disappointing clash which saw Edinburgh retain their 100% record for 2015/16, and Ulster fall to their second consecutive defeat away from home.
Ulster scrum-half Paul Marshall ran out for his 150th provincial cap in a starting XV featuring four personnel changes from the side that had demolished Benetton Treviso two weeks previously.
An unchanged back three comprised Louis Ludik at full-back with Craig Gilroy and Andrew Trimble on the wings, while centre Stuart McCloskey was partnered by Sam Arnold in the absence of Luke Marshall, victim of a thumb injury.
Peter Nelson continued at ten despite Ian Humphreys’ recovery from the hamstring injury which had ruled him out of the first three rounds, the out-half selected on the bench.
In the front row, Callum Black took over from Andrew Warwick at loosehead to join hooker Rob Herring and tighthead Wiehahn Herbst, while Franco van der Merwe returned to the second row to partner Dan Tuohy. In the back row, Nick Williams came in at number Eight with Roger Wilson and Reidy either side.
A lacklustre first half yielded a meagre nine points and little to fill an under-populated Murrayfield with any signs of animation.
Williams’ infraction as he went off his feet in the fifth minute let Edinburgh full-back Greig Tonks in for the first three points of the encounter, and with Trimble penalised five minutes later for a similar offence, the hosts went for touch, only to surrender possession at the lineout.
Edinburgh nonetheless continued to call the tune as the second quarter loomed, Tonks’ left boot extending their lead on 18 minutes as a frustrated Ulster gave away their fifth penalty.
A fine right-wing break from Marshall got Ulster into the home ‘22’ for the first time in as many minutes, earning a penalty which Nelson, assuming kicking duties in lieu of McCloskey, dispatched just inside the left upright.
Nimble footwork from Reidy set up the next Ulster attack, which saw them probe and pound for a good five minutes, but fail to breach the line and eventually lose possession to ubiquitous flanker Watson, impressive throughout with his ball-carrying and tackling.
Half-Time Score Edinburgh 6 Ulster 3
Trimble’s dynamic chip-and-chase jump-started the second half moments after the restart, Marshall scampering into the ‘22’ from a tap-penalty and Williams using all his bulk to secure a 50-50 ball and create the space for Reidy to stretch over for the try.
Nelson converted, and after some neat passing between forwards and backs, the Edinburgh riposte culminated with a well-deserved try for Watson off replacement Viliamu Helu’s pass from the left wing.
Three points to the good courtesy of Tonks’ conversion, Edinburgh failed to sustain any momentum from the restart, and Ulster had only themselves to blame as they eschewed three easy points on the hour mark to kick a penalty to touch, and subsequently lost the chance by failing to drive the maul straight.
Tonks punished the Ulster profligacy on 65 minutes with his third penalty, and although a further effort six minutes later screwed well wide, bullish Edinburgh defence – in particular from a rolling Ulster maul with seconds to go – ensured the six-point lead was enough to see the Scots home.