News

Match Report | Ulster 28-14 Edinburgh

21st April 2023
Ulster secure second spot in the BKT United Rugby Championship with a win over Edinburgh at Kingspan Stadium.

Ulster went in to this, the final game of the regular URC season, knowing what was on the line - the possibility of five wins in a row and securing second in the league table, which would mean both a home quarter-final and the possibility of a home semi-final. 

Alan O’Connor captained the side, with Andy Warwick, Rob Herring, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Kieran Treadwell, Nick Timoney, Stewart Moore and Rob Baloucoune all returning to the starting line up.

Before kick off, the Kingspan Stadium crowd, under the shadow of the newly dedicated Nevin Spence Memorial Stand, observed a minute silence in memory of all those lost in the last year who were connected with the Ulster Rugby community.

It was the visitors who struck first, as a strong carry and offload from Mark Bennett released D’Arcy Graham for a try in the corner which Blair Kinghorn converted. The first quarter continued to be dominated by Edinburgh who were doing well to disrupt Ulster’s attack and strike on the counter attack. Scottish captain Jamie Ritchie at the fore with a couple of turnovers.

The Ulster line up was disrupted too, with Mike Lowry and James Hume being lost to injuries early on, necessitating the introduction of Craig Gilroy and Luke Marshall and forcing a reshuffle in the backline. And this was shortly followed by the loss of Rob Herring, making way for the league’s top try scorer this season, Tom Stewart.

Despite all this disruption, it didn’t stop the Ulster backline finishing off a wonder try. Craig Gilroy, running off Billy Burns shoulder, made an initial break, before moving the ball onto Stockdale and Baloucoune. The winger looked to head for the corner, before throwing a perfect overhead offload back inside to Stockdale who scored. Cooney’s conversion went wide meaning Ulster still trailed 7-5 with 26 minutes played.

After a big hit on Blair Kinghorn by Nick Timoney, Ulster were awarded a penalty at the breakdown, and with 37 minutes on the clock, John Cooney gave Ulster a one point lead with a difficult kick from distance. 

With the half time clock in the red, the Ulster pack turned the screw on an Edinburgh scrum winning another penalty in a similar position. Cooney made no mistake, giving the Ulster supporters something to shout about at the break.

HT | Ulster 11 - 7 Edinburgh

No sooner had the teams reemerged for the second half were the Ulster supporters back on their feet. John Cooney picking off Kinghorn’s pass for an intercept try from half way. Fellow scrum half Nathan Doak, now playing on the wing, was there to celebrate with him after Ulster were forced into another change with the loss of Baloucoune at the break. Cooney converted his own try, giving Ulster a 18 - 7 lead.

A lovely pass from Stewart Moore onto Timoney gave the back rower a bit of space to show his pace and power down the wing. This gave the Ulster men good field position and after a number of strong carries and quick ball they gained a penalty to stick in the corner. Unfortunately, on this occasion, the line out drive couldn’t stay together, and a mix up in running lines meant the chance was lost. 

The rest of the third quarter continued without any more scores. David McCann put end to a threatening opportunity for Edinburgh, while an impressive kick chase and tackle from out of position Doak ignited the home faithful once again. With 63 minutes played, Ulster found themselves six metres out with a line out. The defence was good, but the discipline was not, and Edinburgh found themselves down to 14 men with second row Glen Young sent to the sin bin.

Ulster opted for a tap penalty and after a few muscular close range phrases Nick Timoney dotted down on the line for Ulster’s third try. Cooney popped over the conversion and Ulster were now into a 25-7 lead.

The Ulster management were forced into another change in the backline, with Luke Marshall taking a heavy knock to the nose. Nick Timoney now found himself part of a makeshift backline.

With under ten minutes remaining and after the ball popped out of a ruck around midfield, Stuart McInally was away before any of the Ulstermen had noticed, but Kieran Treadwell showed impressive pace to track down the hooker five meters out forcing a spill over the line. However, off the restart the visitors made their way to the Ulster line, and after a juggle from Ritchie, the Scots may feel aggrieved after the score was chalked off by the officials.

With five minutes remaining, Edinburgh did get their first points since the first five minutes. WP Nel the beneficiary, barrelling his way over the line from a pick and go for a try. Boffelli converted. 

A week after announcing his new two year contract, scrum half John Cooney was awarded Player of the Match. He showed one of the reasons why with his boot, as he slotted another penalty to extend the Ulster lead to 28-14.

The Scottish side had one last attack but as the ball rolled into touch, Ulster knew it was job done. Another four points on the table means second place in the league is secured.

FT | Ulster 28 - 14 Edinburgh

Scorers

Ulster:

Tries: J Stockdale, J Cooney, N Timoney

Conversions: J Cooney (2)

Penalties: J Cooney (3)

Edinburgh:

Tries: D Graham, Nel

Conversions: B Kinghorn (2)

Yellow Card: G Young

Player of the Match

Teams

Ulster

(15-9): Mike Lowry, Rob Baloucoune, James Hume, Stewart Moore, Jacob Stockdale, Billy Burns, John Cooney;

(1-8) Andy Warwick, Rob Herring, Jeff Toomaga-Allen, Alan O’Connor (Captain), Kieran Treadwell, David McCann, Nick Timoney, Duane Vermeulen.

Replacements: Tom Stewart, Callum Reid, Gareth Milasinovich, Sam Carter, Harry Sheridan, Nathan Doak, Luke Marshall, and Craig Gilroy.

Edinburgh 

(15-9) Emiliano Boffelli, Darcy Graham, James Lang, Cammy Hutchison, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Henry Pyrgos

(1-8) Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Luan de Bruin, Glen Young, Sam Skinner, Jamie Ritchie (CAPTAIN), Hamish Watson, Viliame Mata

Replacements: Stuart McInally, Boan Venter, WP Nel, Pierce Phillips, Connor Boyle, Ben Vellacott, Mark Bennett, Nathan Sweeney

Remembering Nevin Spence

Ulster v Edinburgh was the first game that the Nevin Spence Memorial Stand was officially dedicated.