Ulster continue to struggle as Edinburgh get over the line

Edinburgh 16 Ulster 10

Ulster’s poor form away from home in the Guinness Pro12 continued on Friday night after defeat to Edinburgh at BT Murrayfield but at least the Belfast side secured a bonus point at the end of a contest that was far from a rugby spectacle.

The visitors to Edinburgh were undone to a large extent by their ponderous forward play that too often meant slow ball for the backs. But the men behind the scrum were equally culpable with spilled passes, knock-ons and ill-direction of the ball.

In what was a dull performance by Ulster, scrum half Paul Marshall, playing his 150th game for the province, was the stand-out player, his darting runs and clever kicks troubling the Edinburgh defence.

At half time Edinburgh led 6-3 with two penalty goals by full back Greig Tonks to one by outside half Peter Nelson for Ulster. But after a dynamic start to the second half Ulster took the lead with a try by flanker Sean Reidy after Marshall had chipped the ball into the Scottish 22m area.

The ball was moved along the back line but it was the forwards who finished off allowing Reidy to cash over, Nelson converting from wide out for a 10-6 lead.

Edinburgh replied swiftly with a try by man-of-the-match Hamish Watson, the flanker having created the try with a long cut-out pass before taking the return pass to go in unopposed, leaving Tonks with an easy conversion. Tonks then kicked his third penalty goal to seal Ulster’s fate and seal Edinburgh’s win.

Scorers

Edinburgh: Tries, Watson Cons, Tonks Pens, Tonks (3). Ulster: Tries, Reidy Cons, Nelson Pens, Nelson.

Edinburgh: G Tonks; T Brown, C Dean (W Helu 40), A Strauss, D Hoyland; P Burleigh, N Fowles; A Dell (G Shiells 10 (G Turner 68)), N Cochrane, J Andress (S Berghan 64), A Bresler, F McKenzie, M Coman (C du Preez 56), H Watson, N Manu.

Ulster: L Ludik I Humphreys 59); C Gilroy, S Arnold, S McCLoskey, A Trimble; P Nelson, P Marshall; C Black (A Warwick 56), R Herring (J Andrew 68), W Herbst (B Ross 56) , D Tuohy(L Stevenson 35), F van der Merwe, R Wilson (W Faloon 51), S Reidy, N Williams.

Referee: D Phillips (IRFU).