MAGNERS LEAGUE Ulster 13 Edinburgh 9:THE SCORELINE should have been more convincing but ultimately it mattered little to Ulster as - to the great relief of most of the 8,418 in attendance - they ended their dreadful losing streak last night at Ravenhill.
Encouragingly for coach Matt Williams, for much of this game the visitors were treated to an old-fashioned Ravenhill welcome.
Ulster, with Stephen Ferris irresistible, battered into Edinburgh in a way not seen in Belfast for almost a year. And though profligacy with the boot - Clinton Schifcofske landed only three of six kicks at goal - and during a purple patch late in the first half kept Edinburgh in the game, the fire was clearly back in Ulster bellies.
The victory, after four successive defeats, takes Ulster off the bottom of the table, at least until Connacht play Leinster tomorrow, and provides a timely boost in confidence ahead of their Heineken Cup campaign, which starts with the visit of Stade Français to Ravenhill next Saturday.
After a quiet opening quarter, when Edinburgh had ball and territory without posing significant threat, Ulster finally burst into life for the first time this season, displaying the tempo, vigour and spirit that used to be commonplace at Ravenhill.
With dominance at scrum time and greater intensity at the breakdown, they took control of the game only moments after Schifcofske had fluffed a penalty of the kind David Humphreys used to kick in his sleep.
Bryn Cunningham's chip into space created havoc in the Edinburgh defence and when Andrew Trimble snatched the loose ball, he found Cave, who put David Pollock clear, and the flanker raced over for a try in the 25th minute, Schifcofske converting.
Ulster now began imposing themselves across the pitch. Ferris, on his first start after two months with back trouble, cut an immense figure, carrying ball and devouring the breakdown.
When Trimble gathered a kick-ahead by Cillian Willis and Tom Court and Ryan Caldwell took the ball on, another try looked on the cards but Edinburgh scrambled well and were happy to limp into the break just seven points adrift.
Ulster could have been better off but Schifcofske missed another long-range penalty and just on half-time an Ulster penalty in front of the posts was reversed for a punch thrown after the whistle.
The second half started with David Blair kicking two penalties to virtually wipe out the lead, and Williams's men had to start again.
Schifcofske slotted a penalty in the 53rd minute. And though the wing again missed a golden opportunity to stretch the lead with another kick, Niall O'Connor's charge-down of a Mike Blair clearance brought another kick at goal in the 66th minute and this time Schifcofske made no mistake.
Phil Godman kept Edinburgh in touch with a penalty, but Ulster held on for victory and a standing ovation from the Ravenhill crowd.
SCORING SEQUENCE:25 mins: D Pollock try, C Schifcofske con, 7-0; 42: D Blair pen, 7-3; 46: Blair pen, 7-6; 52: Schifcofske pen, 10-6; 66: Schifcofske pen, 13-6; 72: P Godman pen, 13-9;
ULSTER:B Cunningham; C Schifcofske, D Cave, P Steinmetz, A Trimble; N O'Connor, C Willis (I Boss 41); T Court (J Fitzpatrick 60), R Best (capt), BJ Botha; E O'Donoghue (C Del Fava 50), R Caldwell; S Ferris (M McCullough 75), D Pollock, R Diack.
EDINBURGH:J Thompson; J Houston, H Southwell, N De Luca, M Robertson; D Blair (P Godman 50), M Blair (capt) (G Laidlaw 69); A Jacobsen, A Kelly (R Ford 40) G Kerr (G Cross 40); J Hamilton, B Gissing (C Hamilton 50); M Mustchin, A Hogg, S Newlands.
Referee:C Damasco (FIR).
