Following last week’s defeat to Biarritz, Ulster were determined to make amends against Edinburgh at Murrayfield. Unfortunately, a poor second half from Ulster allowed the home side into the game to end Ulster’s unbeaten start to their Magners League campaign.
Despite the poor weather conditions, Ulster’s game got off to a good start when a kick from Edinburgh fly-half David Blair when straight into touch. This was soon followed by a chance for Ulster to take an early lead three minutes into the game, when Edinburgh were penalised for coming in from the side. Paddy Wallace, who started the match as fly-half under the IRFU Player Management scheme, took over kicking duties for the night and he was unlucky when his first attempt at goal went wide of the posts.
After the restart, Edinburgh slowly made their way towards Ulster’s 22, but David Blair spotted the opportunity to go in front and attempted a drop goal. Similarly to Wallace’s kick, it went wide of the posts and the score remained 0-0.
Edinburgh continued to apply pressure to the Ulster squad and good recycling from the Scottish forwards allowed Blair to set flanker Fraser McKenzie up for a try in the right corner. Chris Paterson missed the conversion, but just ten minutes into the game, the home side took the lead. Edinburgh 5 – Ulster 0.
Determined to rewrite last week’s Heineken Cup result, Ulster stepped up their intensity and a fantastic break from Adam D’Arcy gave his side the chance to invade Edinburgh’s half. However an accidental knock-on by Andrew Trimble put an end to any try-scoring opportunity.
Ulster continued to dominate the scrum and their hard work paid off on sixteen minutes when Edinburgh’s Scott MacLeod was penalised for coming in from the side. Wallace opted to kick for goal and was on target, closing the point’s gap. Edinburgh 5 – Ulster 3.
Ten minutes later however, Edinburgh regained the lead once again when Ulster’s Chris Henry was penalised for not rolling away after a tackle. Chris Paterson made no mistake with the boot this time: Edinburgh 8 – Ulster 3.
The half-hour mark showed the home side what Ulster were capable of and after a series of good passing and recycled ball, Ian Whitten powered through Edinburgh’s defence to touch down for the teams first – and only – try of the match. Wallace successfully converted the try, bringing the scoreboard to Edinburgh 8 – Ulster 10.
With renewed determination in the closing minutes of the first half, Ulster looked certain to score another try with Mark McCrea and David McIlwaine sprinting down the left wing. They were unable to finish the move however when the ball was fumbled into touch and as the half-time whistle blew, Edinburgh took comfort knowing that Ulster were chasing the lead.
Four minutes into the second half and Ulster were awarded a penalty. Wallace took the kick, to make it two successful kicks from three, and increasing Ulster’s points tally. Edinburgh 8 – Ulster 13.
Unfortunately, Ulster’s joy was shortlived when Edinburgh’s number eight, Natani Talei, charged through the visitors’ defence to score a magnificent solo try. Paterson’s conversion was accurate once again and put Edinburgh back in front. Edinburgh 15 – Ulster 13.
An infringement from Rory Best’s replacement, Andi Kyriacou, just after the hour mark and just in front of the Ulster posts, gave Paterson another chance to widen the point’s difference. Edinburgh 18 – Ulster 13.
Ulster were penalised again three minutes later, but luckily for the Ulstermen, Paterson’s kick was pushed just wide of the posts, leaving the score unchanged.
Ulster needed a converted try to win the game and it looked possible when Edinburgh were reduced to 14 men with 7 minutes left on the clock. Ian Humphreys, who joined the game shortly beforehand, took the kick on this occasion and slotted the ball between the posts, reducing the point’s deficit to two points. Edinburgh 18 – Ulster 16.
A minute later and David Blair made amends for his earlier drop goal attempt by accurately slotting over his kick. Ulster were once again left chasing the win and as the seconds ticked away, Ulster lost some of their composure. The team were unable to create another opportunity to score and as the referees whistle signified the end of the match, Ulster were left disappointed with the first defeat of their Magners’ League campaign.
Thoughts on the game?
There were times throughout the first half when Ulster controlled the game well, cleanly recycled the ball, made ground, and their defense held strong, but a disappointing second half saw the team lose their composure, and ultimately cost them the win.
Edinburgh were down to 14 men for the final ten minutes of the match and it was an opportunity Ulster should have taken full advantage of. Yet the players were unable to turn their pressure into points. This is something which has occurred time and time again this season, and one can’t help but worry that these missed opportunities will make vital differences in the latter half of the season.
Ulster’s confidence may have taken another battering but if they work on the errors which occurred last night, there is no reason why Ulster can’t put in a winning performance against Munster next Friday. It may be a young squad, but there are experienced players in the mix too – they have what it takes to play well and win their matches so it can be frustrating when things go wrong and errors occur.
Let’s hope the home supporters will also give Ulster an added boost of confidence and encouragement on Friday night!
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7 Responses to “Match Report: Edinburgh 21 Ulster 16”
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Ulster made a serious mistake in the first half instead of taking the 3 point penalty kicked for touch when basically there were only mins to go until the half time whistle.
I consider this to be a mistake because despite being on top Ulster were actually putting pressure on themselves to score the try when really the time available was short and they thus missed the opportunity to go in 5 points up instead of 2
In the first half Ulster rolled into the tackle in the second half too many players were trying to run through the tackle enabling Edinburgh to force the a forward ball from an Ulster player
My ref watch didn’t really rate him highly while being consistent he whistled early in my opinion Henry had regained his feet and if he was guilty of failing to release after the tackle ( when he wasn’t the first Ulster player to tackle or go to ground ) then the Enidburgh player was equally guilty of non release of the ball secondly before one of the Edinburgh trys their scum half was crossing backwards and forwards behind the pack who where blocking the tacklers
Those gripes off my chest Ulster lost not because of the ref but missed opportunities and foolish…
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Further re”mote” thoughts while Ulster coughed up the ball frequently in the second half giving away possession which is embarrassing the lead they had was lost due a missed tackle early in the second half .
I have been criticized for insisting that winning is based on a sound defence not upon a slick attack ( because you are always going to make more errors attacking than defending) one defensive error can and did cost Ulster this match .
Maybe Ulster might have to sacrifice the concept of a three player ball carrying backrow to playing an out and out defensive 7?
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can’t understand why someone has voted Kyriacou for man of the match, he had a shocking bad game, Brady is the only steady No2 and he seems to be out of favor with the ‘teacher’ come ‘coach’.
‘mote’……. sounds like really boring rugby but you have a point.
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look the unfortunate thing about the vote is that there are those with a loyalty vote the Hiinch vote for Paddy Mac Larne vote for who ever the Ian fan club see no further etc and the players putting in the hard time never get noticed.
and then there are sardonic !!!
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jordy, people are free to vote for whoever they want in our poll and while kyriacou may have missed a couple of arrows it was hardly a shocking game. It’s very close between all three hookers in my opinion but Kyriacou and Brady have been rotated fairly regularly this season with Brady having the edge in match time.
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mote – posting twice to get over the word count is not on. Keep your responses short and too the point or move on. This is an official warning.
regarding your comments on voting. this is the most open and fair voting system in Ulster Rugby. If you don’t agree with who people vote for fair enough but you have the opportunity to vote for someone else. There is no need to insult other voters or denegrade their choices.
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