Ulster ran in five tries against a disorganised Edinburgh side to secure top flight European rugby at Ravenhill next season.
Despite the fact that Smith, Danielli, Whitten, Humphreys and Ferris all crossed the line for the Red Hand, Ulster should take note that a was a period of disintegration by the Scottish side that was the deciding factor in this game and there is plenty of work to be done if we are to push for much needed success next season.
However, given the effort of the team on the pitch over the last three games, it cannot be denied that Ulster were deserving their slice of luck when it came and if we can follow up this result up with a comfortable win against Connacht in a fortnight’s time the team will be going into the close season with a fair degree of buoyancy.
With Connaught getting hammered in the preceding match in the Mangers League Super Sunday Ulster certainly had it all to play for in this game and the team started well taking it too their Scottish opponents. Despite going behind to an early penalty Ulster stormed back with Darren Cave sending Jamie Smith over for their opening score.
O’Connor converted and added a penalty before Ulster’s line out woes struck again with Best overthrowing in Ulster’s 22 which eventually resulted in a Vasser try which was converted to take the half time score to 10 –10.
Ulster came out the more determined at the start of the second half with Rory Best leading from the front. The hooker was definitely back on form, with his most impressive match since his return, popping up all over the pitch. It was however a piece of magic from the discarded Ian Humphreys that broke the deadlock as he sent Danielli through after an excellent line break.
Edinburgh fluffed a chance to pull level but with Tuohy and O’Donoghue having barnstorming games in the second row and Faloon causing all sorts of problems at the breakdown, Ulster forced their way up field for Whitten to eventually wiggle his way over for a try in the corner. The conversion hit the posts leaving ten score 10 –20 in Ulster’s favour.
Edinburgh had their chances, but some appalling decisions by Blair and Godman tipped the game firmly in Ulster’s favour with first Humphreys charging down a clearance to score under the posts and then Ferris charging like a rhino from 30 years from an undefended ruck to appear to secure the game. Humphreys converted both, Ulster had the precious bonus point and, what looked like, an unassailable 13 – 34 lead.
McLaughlin swapped out the subs and Edinburgh fought back with two quick tries of their own bringing the score to 25 – 34 and I remember thinking that if Ulster didn’t close this out it would be the disaster of the season but thankfully calm heads prevailed and a further Humphreys penalty ended the game, Ulster winning 25 –37. Phew!
The result will definitely take some pressure of the beleaguered Management Team and as I said earlier hopefully we can finish off the season in some style against Connacht in a fortnight’s time and we can look forward to improving on this season’s European Cup performance. Now, where did I leave my passport?
More like this:
29 Responses to “Edinburgh 25 Ulster 37”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
The point you missed Dewi is that had O’Connor not been injured and McLaughlin FORCED into bringing on Humphreys this match would have been lost. It should not be underestimated the difference this little man made. He has a gift of beating men with ease and put others into space something O’Connor has not. If McLaughlin continues with his preference for O’Connor next year I fear for the worst.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Did you enjoy your trip. Were there any members of the URSC there?
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Thank you Editor. I had a lovely time. It was the worst turn out in Edinburgh for Ulster supporters that I can remember. If it hadn’t been for a group of Edinburgh based Ulster students I would have felt alone. Being a member of the URSC myself I have to say I was there but didn’t see many others. It was really easy to organize in fact I had a choice of travel, I could have travelled by car/bus and boat or plane and bus. I chose the latter and travelled on a half empty Easyjet from Belfast and the Airport Express Bus (£6 return) which stops at the Murrayfield Hotel. It is a pity the URSC is more concerned with other matters than actually supporting the team at an away match but then I only had a choice of three ferry routes Larne/Cairnryan, Larne/Troon and Belfast/Stranraer and two budget airlines, Easyjet and Flybe and could have made the return trip easily in a day should I so have wished. So it was obviously much too difficult to organise. They should be ashamed to call themselves a supporters club.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Maybe you should offer your services and help with the URSC travel arrangements next season.
I’m sure it’s a position that would suit someone recently retired!:P
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
I shall offer my services to Ayatollah Kimble forthwith.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Gonna help with away trips next season if required. I understand the Obergruppenfuhrer is being rather more sensible than his predecessor regarding fans going to away games. Poor MR never really quite got it – was all too strange for him!
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
for the last home game of the season what are the chances of it not being the Fri night ? Does Setanta have an interest now that its highly unlikely that the boys from the west can qualify for the H cup through the magners league, (albeit they could still qualify by winning the Amlin)
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Has a date been finalised for the Connacht game yet?? I am under mounting domestic pressure…
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
JK ……… are you sure you don’t mean” mounting domestic pleasure” ?
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
I think dates are announced tomorrow afternoon.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Rang Ravenhill today and they still didn’t know. The pleasant lady on t’other end of the phone said that they should have been informed by close-of-play yesterday. Raging Raven, how dare you! We’re married!
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Good to see ya there Raven ……. shame ya had to get the flight back after the game ….there was some craic in the Presidents Suite at Murrayfield after the game and in the Cafe Royale. As for the URSC you have to wonder if they bother their arse at all.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Gary ……… will never forget MR asking us what we were doing there (Sportground in Galway a few years ago) he didn’t realise that supporters actually supported the team away from Raving Hill …….. muppet
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Remember it well Ding. I think there was several minutes stunned silence before we just went back to our drink. The poor guy looked genuinely perplexed – as I said, he just never got it.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
With the same half backs No’C and Humphreys next year Ulster are going to struggle once again.
No’C lacks the variety in his game and Humphreys lacks consistency and defence.
Ulster cannot afford to go into games with what at times is 13 man defence and on sunday a twelve man defence.
Ulster’s last two trys were down to Edinburgh chasing the game The Edinburgh fullback wasted time thinking about running it and Ferris had a straight run in with nobody to beat.
It nice to win— even nicer to win away from home but one swallow doesn’t make a summer.
The thing which is over looked in the report is the fact that this was the first match since February that Ulster were not refereed by a scottish referee.
Owens did card Whitten but with Ulster in the lead and Edinburgh attacking at every opportunity I think he was expecting ULster to slow the recyle at every opportunity and was looking for the offences.If players are to given leeway in releasing the ball after the tackle then tacklers should be given the opportunity to move way. It should also be recognised that tacklers if they are to do the job properly must ensure that the player doesn’t regain his feet and continue forward which means they must hold the player down.
The fact is of course reduced to 14 men Ulster were at six and sevens defensively .
And the sad fact is that Ulster will of course be more often be refereed by a scottish than a Welsh referee.
I think Ulster played as well against the Ospreys –if not better and the Ospreys are a much better side than Edinburgh– but then most supporters disregard the quality of the opposition and base opinion the performance on the result.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Niall is just a little slow in everything he does, in thought and deed and his kicking is erratic at best. He simply does not have the makings of a European Cup winning 10 which is the team’s target – or should be – every season. You could do it with Humphreys as he has shown he can open up any defence. his tackling has been / is a concern but I think it has improved although his kicking, while better than NOC’s is erratic also. 10′s were rarely or ever really good tacklers as a rule. Wilkinson was the exception rather than the rule. he now seems to have set the bar below which all others fail Barry John couldn’t bring down a wet paper bag but he did o.k.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Bit depressing that people are blaming Scottish referees for all Ulster’s ills this season. I thought we were just a bit shit / not quite as good as the other teams. But as “hockey boy” what do I know?
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
For a change you are correct JK. In most games we were out muscled up front with the referee correctly judging Ulster as the offenders.
On Sunday Ulster took it to Edinburgh up front and controlled the breakdown, resulting in fewer penalties.
Hopefully things will improve when our prime South African and New Zealand beef arrives next season. (If they remain fit!)
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Quite right Hockey Boy too much winging about Scottish referees. It should be sorted for next year with the players improved body positions being practised daily on the training ground and the purchase of flowers for a certain Welsh referee.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
now now RR – in this day and age of equality we are not supposed to discriminate about ones preference to one particular sex rather than the opposite sex ! although I think it is quite apt and fitting whenever he wears the pink ref top !!!
However on a serious note regardless of the nationality (and I suppose the competence also)of the ref the forwards should be playing to whatever he is calling – they need to play smarter rugby. The same goes for the backs we need someone to look at where the ref is playing the offside line and call the plays to suit. If the offside line is the MIDDLE of the ruck then we need to make the opposing backs think with a few ‘dinks’ over the top and make them turn – smarter rugby.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Yes Junty I did have a chuckle when I saw him in pink the other weekend. And you are absolutely correct the players must be smarter next season. I long for the days when we had a proper captain who could raise our players performance and influence the referee. I would suggest Andy Ward was the last one.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Reminds me of the time I met Keith Wood in Dublin a few days before a match against Wales. Found him friendly and happy to have a chat about the match. I asked him “Who’s refereeing?” “Me” he replied with a knowing smile on his face.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Raging – you are absolutely right – what would we give to have another Andy Ward.
I see at long last Magners league have confirmed that the match against our western brethern is on Fri 7th. at 19.30
With the Scarlets running in 9 tries against them I am hoping for a similar try-fest to round off the season.
Heres to a good night of craic, beer and a home win.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
“Heres to a good night of craic, beer and a home win.”
Amen to that Junty!
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
any word of Pienaar? ED, with all your inside contacts and great interviews…….
keep up the good work, love the honest match reports……
and who are the URSC ??????????
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
It is hard to play a ref when he is inconsistent and basically referees by player watching rather than offence and or waits until the offence he thinks will occur –occurs but failing to see the offences which occurred before the one expected.
It is not the offences which are given are wrong it is the offences missed.
for example in a recent game a knock-on by the opposition was knocked on by Ulster a player in front of the ulster player fell on the ball — a penalty against Ulster — exactly what advantage did Ulster achieve from the original knock on ?.
I won’t and don’t say the referees were the only reason Ulster lost but some can and do make winning harder !!
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
The imports Rush and Muller should help to make Ulster more difficult to beat but I don’t believe they will win us matches and I fear the defence beyond the midfield when Ian plays and neither outhalf has consistently control a game all season.
I know that there is “the Ian Humphreys can do little wrong club” and I admit that he has talent but frequently its still in the changing room for 90% of a match and 60% of the matches
similiar there are other out halfs in the Magners League who may not have his flair but week in and week out they control the games for their teams and those teams are all above Ulster in the league — a magic moment a game won’t win the league
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
“I admit that he has talent but frequently its still in the changing room for 90% of a match and 60% of the matches”
IDIOT…..
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0
Mark … I was hoping if we ignored him he would go back to the UAFC site.
Rate this comment. Like or dislike?
0 
0