Richie Murphy’s side ran in six tries in the dominant performance, despite playing with 14 men for half an hour of the match and dealing with multiple injury issues during the contest.
Charlie Irvine, Juarno Augustus, Jake Flannery, Scott Wilson, Conor McKee and Ben Carson were all on the scoresheet, with Jack Murphy adding five conversions.
The contest got off to a tough start for Ulster, who were pinned back by the home side from the kick-off. Zac Ward was shown an early yellow card for playing the nine, as Ben Vellacott looked to break into broken field.
Edinburgh’s attack from the penalty was bravely held up, but in the process, David Shanahan needed to be taken off for an HIA following his connection with the hard pitch surface. Conor McKee replaced the unfortunate scrum-half.
With Edinburgh pressing from penalty advantage, Dylan Richardson drove towards the Ulster try line but returning number eight, Juarno Augustus, was able to get his body under and hold the attempt up and force the knock on.
Edinburgh would make their pressure count with a try from fly-half Ross Thompson, who was put through a gap in Ulster’s fourteen-man defence. Thompson converted his own score for an early 7-0 lead.
Despite the man down, Ulster showed a resilient reaction, forcing themselves up the field and gaining a turnover penalty through Juarno Augustus. Instead of opting for the points, Ulster showed bravery with Jack Murphy kicking to the corner.
Ulster went on the attack and after a number of attacking phases and strong carrying in the Edinburgh 22, Charlie Irvine was fed by a clever pop pass by Bryn Ward, and the big lock was able to crash over for Ulster’s first try. Jack Murphy successfully converted to level the scoreline.
Edinburgh would strike back, after gaining entry into the Ulster 22. The ball was worked through the hands and Wes Goosen found Harry Paterson on the supporting run, with the full-back running it in to score. Thompson added the conversion.
Ulster were then left frustrated after a series of opportunities for Zac Ward in the away side’s 22, but on each occasion Edinburgh’s scramble defence were able to tackle the wing into touch.
Ward thought he had found Augustus for a well-worked try but the TMO review found that Liam McConnell had tap tackled the winger ‘s foot into touch and the decision was no try.
Then it was Edinburgh’s turn to surge forward, following Boyle’s turnover and they made the pressure count. After a big carry from Boan Venter into the 22, Ross Thompson fired a pass out wide to Wes Goosen on the left wing, and he had the easy finish. The conversion drifted wide of the posts to leave the score at 19-7 to the hosts.
Ulster showed all of their attacking flair just three minutes later, with Hume finding Bryn Ward who made metres before he found Conor McKee who was showing great pace to burst into the Edinburgh half.
McKee did brilliant to pop the ball off to Juarno Augustus on the supporting run, and the number eight finished off the beautiful move. Murphy’s conversion brought the scoreline to within a score at 19-14.
With the whistle for half-time, Edinburgh headed into the sheds with the five-point lead after a thrilling end-to-end half.
HT: 19-14
The second half saw another injury blow early on after centre, James Hume, was forced to leave the field for Jake Flannery.
Then came another setback. A TMO review confirmed that Harry Sheridan had hit ball carrier, Connor Boyle, high and he was sent to the sin-bin, with a bunker review to come for a potential upgrade.
Despite the man down, Ulster defended well and continued to look secure at the scrum.
Scott Wilson replaced Tom McAllister at tighthead prop, and the debutant could be proud of his efforts, more than holding his own against Springbok loosehead, Venter, and registering a scrum penalty in his first senior scrum during the first half.
Ulster then scored their second try with fourteen on the field, showing their devastating transition speed.
After Werner Kok gathered a high ball and carried, he popped the ball off to Mike Lowry who then fired out a great pass out wide to Zac Ward, who made vital metres.
Ward superbly found Flannery on his outside and the replacement centre dotted down in the corner to seal the lightning counter. Murphy’s conversion went wide but the scoreline was now level at 19-19.
It was then confirmed that Sheridan’s yellow would be upgraded to a 20-minute red card following the bunker review, another setback for Murphy’s young side.
That setback was then followed by a morale boosting roar, with Scott Wilson winning Ulster a scrum penalty against his opposite number.
From the pen, Ulster kicked to the corner and attacked the Edinburgh defence. The impressive Cormac Izuchukwu burst towards the line but Ben Muncaster was able to get his arms underneath the big lock and force a turnover.
The fourteen of Ulster had all the momentum, with the forward pack making some huge carries into the Edinburgh 22.
After playing with penalty advantage, Ulster got the bonus-point score through Scott Wilson, who powered through a gap and stretched for the finish. Murphy’s conversion was through and Ulster now led the contest by 19-26.
The match then swung once more, when Edinbrugh’s replacement hooker, Harri Morris, was shown a yellow card for tackling Cormac Izuchukwu in the air, with the lock landing awkwardly.
Like Sheridan’s dismissal earlier, Morris was sent to the sin-bin for a potential yellow to red upgrade, which was shortly confirmed.
Unfortunately, despite his best efforts to continue, Izuchukwu was withdrawn for an HIA.
Ulster kept up their dominance of possession, and Conor McKee showed his speed of thought with a quick snipe around the fringes and he went over for Ulster’s fifth score. Murphy’s conversion added the two.
Ulster’s physicality and territory were suffocating the Edinburgh team, and they looked even more dangerous.
A barnstorming run from Bryn Ward got Ulster into the Edinburgh 22 before Wilson’s pop pass was intercepted by Connor Boyle.
Ulster would soon notch their sixth score, through replacement centre, Ben Carson, who made a strong impact on the game with his aggression and strong carrying.
McKee again showed quick thinking around the ruck to find Carson and the centre was able to burst through a gap and stretch for the try.
With the clock edging closer to FT, replacement lock, Joe Hopes, showed yet more impact from the bench, with a brilliant turnover in a maul to stop Edinburgh advancing.
Ulster’s mentality was summed up by their drive towards another try with the clock in the red. Wilson’s attempt was held up but the match was out of sight and the referee brought an end to the contest.
A superb win for Ulster, who reacted well from the half-time deficit to wrestle control back despite having fourteen players for twenty minutes.
The BP victory sees Ulster surge to second in the table and surpass last year’s URC points tally after only 12 Rounds played, showing the progression of the province this season under Richie Murphy.
Next up for the Ulstermen, a home interprovincial derby against Connacht at Affidea Stadium in Round 13.
FT: 19-40
BKT United Rugby Championship Player of the Match - Juarno Augustus
What a return to action from Ulster's powerhouse number eight. A huge performance from the South African forward, who was on a mission to impress after missing three months with an ankle injury. A well taken try was good reward for the forward's work ethic and he was at the heart of Ulster's forward punch all night in the Scottish capital.
Scorers
Edinburgh:
TRY: Thompson, Paterson, Goosen
CON: Thompson (2)
Ulster:
TRY: Irvine, Augustus, Flannery, Wilson, McKee, Carson
CON: Murphy (5)
Teams
Edinburgh Rugby:
Boan Venter, 2. Dylan Richardson, 3. Angus Williams, 4. Marshall Sykes , 5. Glen Young, 6. Liam McConnell, 7. Connor Boyle, 8. Ben Muncaster, 9. Ben Vellacott (captain), 10. Ross Thompson, 11. Wes Goosen, 12. Mosese Tuipulotu, 13. Piers O’Conor, 14. Malelili Satala, 15. Harry Paterson
Replacements: 16. Harri Morris, 17. James Whitcombe, 18. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, 19. Callum Hunter-Hill, 20. Tom Currie, 21. Charlie Shiel, 22. Cammy Scott, 23. Jack Brown
Ulster Rugby:
1. Angus Bell, 2. Rob Herring, 3. Tom McAllister, 4. Harry Sheridan, 5. Charlie Irvine, 6. Cormac Izuchukwu, 7. Bryn Ward, 8. Juarno Augustus, 9. David Shanahan, 10. Jack Murphy, 11. Zac Ward, 12. Jude Postlethwaite, 13. James Hume, 14. Werner Kok, 15. Michael Lowry
Replacements: 16. James McCormick, 17. Sam Crean, 18. Scott Wilson, 19. Joe Hopes, 20. David McCann, 21. Conor McKee, 22. Jake Flannery, 23. Ben Carson