Match Reports

Match Report | Edinburgh 31 Ulster 34

5th June 2021
Ulster finished their Guinness PRO14 Rainbow Cup campaign with a dramatic victory over Edinburgh, through a last-gasp penalty by Ian Madigan at BT Murrayfield on Saturday evening. The hosts had an early penalty opportunity, which they opted to kick for the line-out. After struggling to find a way through the solid Ulster defence, they fired the ball left out wide to Duhan van der Merwe, who muscled his way over. Blair Kinghorn was unable to convert. Edinburgh quickly struck again through James Johnstone running a strong line, sending Blair Kinghorn through to score. Kinghorn converted his own try. Ulster replied on thirteen minutes; Ian Madigan setting in motion an excellent attacking phase. David Shanahan ran a great support line to bring Ulster close to the line, offloading to Alan O’Connor. Ulster then moved the ball out to James Hume who showed real strength to power over. Madigan was on-target for the conversion. Momentum had swung Ulster’s way, and they got themselves into another promising position. Stuart McCloskey’s attempted offload was thwarted illegally by Hamish Watson, who saw yellow for his troubles. Ulster capitalised through Skipper Iain Henderson barging over the whitewash. Ian Madigan kicked the extras to take the lead. Ulster’s third try of the half showed some lovely running and interplay between in the back line. James Hume made the initial break and David Shanahan was once again on-hand to offload to Stuart McCloskey, who ran home under the posts. Madigan made no mistake with the two. The try bonus-point was sewn up in the 38th minute for the Ulster men, following a key moment in which Ulster won the scrum against the head. They then got another penalty and kicked for touch. The ensuing line-out and maul had an air of inevitability when Adam McBurney tucked the ball under his arm at the back, and he rumbled over to score. Madigan’s kick rattled off the post for the try to go unconverted. Ulster’s backs were again involved for Ulster’s fifth try, going into the wide channel for Rob Lyttle to touch down in the right-hand corner. Billy Burns, who had come on to replace Ian Madigan - and make his 50th appearance - was unable to get the tricky conversion. Edinburgh capitalised on a yellow card to Michael Lowry, and a couple of minutes later, Nick Timoney. Replacement prop, Pierre Schoeman bludgeoned his way over; Kinghorn converting. They were in the ascendency and had numbers to send Cammy Hutchinson through and Kinghorn fired over the conversion. The Scottish side struck again for their fifth with Eroni Sau running clear down the right wing. Kinghorn wasn’t able to convert, so the scores were now level. Ulster made use of the Captain’s Challenge to check for a high challenge on Michael Lowry in the build-up, but referee Ben Whitehouse deemed there to be no foul play, and the try stood. Ulster fought back, and with the clock in the red, were awarded a penalty. Ian Madigan, who had come back on for half-centurion Burns, called for the tee and drilled the ball over to snatch the win at the death, signing off the season on a positive note for the Ulster men. Full-time score: Edinburgh 31 Ulster 34  

WORTH ANOTHER LOOK

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

SCORERS

Edinburgh Tries: Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Pierre Schoeman, Cammy Hutchinson, Eroni Sau Cons: Blair Kinghorn (3) Ulster Tries: James Hume, Iain Henderson, Stuart McCloskey, Adam McBurney, Rob Lyttle Cons: Ian Madigan (3) Pens: Ian Madigan

LINE-UPS

Edinburgh (15-9) Harry Paterson, Eroni Sau, James Johnstone, George Taylor, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Charlie Shiel; (1-8) Boan Venter, Patrick Harrison, WP Nel, Marshall Sykes, Ben Toolis, Jamie Ritchie (CAPT), Hamish Watson, Ben Muncaster. Replacements: Mike Willemse, Pierre Schoeman, Simon Berghan, Mesu Kunavula, Harri Morris, Henry Pyrgos, Nathan Chamberlain, Cammy Hutchison. Ulster (15-9) Rob Lyttle, Matt Faddes, James Hume, Stuart McCloskey, Craig Gilroy, Ian Madigan, David Shanahan; (1-8) Kyle McCall, Adam McBurney, Marty Moore, Alan O’Connor, Iain Henderson (Capt.), Matty Rea, Marcus Rea, Nick Timoney. Replacements: Rob Herring, Andrew Warwick, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Greg Jones, Alby Mathewson, Billy Burns, Michael Lowry.

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