BKT UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP - ROUND 1:
Friday, September 25 -
ULSTER 29 EDINBURGH 34, Affidea Stadium
Scorers: Ulster: Tries: Michael Lowry, Zac Ward, David McCann, Keynan Knox; Cons: Jack Murphy 3; Pen: Jack Murphy
Edinburgh: Tries: Freddy Douglas, Malelili Satala, Hector Patterson, Piers O'Conor; Cons: James Grayson 4; Pens: James Grayson 2
HT: Ulster 5 Edinburgh 20
Zac Ward, BKT URC player-of-the-match David McCann, and debutant Keynan Knox all touched down as Ulster reeled off 24 unanswered points during a rousing second-half comeback.
However, Edinburgh held on to make a winning start to the season, having built a 34-5 lead by the 48th minute. Their new out-half James Grayson impressed with 14 points from the tee.
Stand-in captain Michael Lowry notched Ulster's only score as they trailed 20-5 at half-time, with their porous defence allowing Freddy Douglas and Malelili Satala through for tries.
Ulster only came alive after Hector Patterson and Piers O'Conor had brilliantly stretched the Scottish capital side's advantage to 29 points, early in the second half.
There were definite positives to take from how Richie Murphy's charges fought back, particularly the impact of their bench, and a 75th-minute penalty from Jack Murphy set up a grandstand finish.
Sadly for the home crowd, the Ulstermen were unable to get back into try-scoring range, leaving them to start their 2026/27 campaign with a fourth defeat in five league matches going back to last April.
The province can still take plenty of encouragement from James McNabney's 63-minute performance on his long-awaited return, and competitive debuts for eight players, including Eduardo Bello, Eli Snyman, Ben Donnell, Henry Walker, and Knox in the tight five.
The left-hand post denied Edinburgh out-half Grayson an early three points, but the visitors' strong start with ball in hand, coupled with Matt Currie charging down a Lowry kick, had Ulster on the back foot.
Save for newcomer Jamie Benson's turnover, a lineout stolen by McCann, and a scrum penalty, there was little for the home supporters to cheer about during the opening quarter.
Ulster could not capitalise on a decent scrum position, and last season's 12th place finishers, coached by Sean Everitt, marched downfield to open the scoring, 20 minutes in.
The excellent Douglas burrowed over close to the posts after James McCormick's long lineout throw had been pinched by his opposite number Harri Morris. Grayson's right boot made it 7-0.
With Magnus Bradbury continuing to made good ground, a Grayson penalty took Edinburgh into double figures. Nonetheless, Ulster found their rhythm in attack to swiftly hit back.
Number 8 McNabney, back after missing last season due to an ACL injury, led the charge into the opposition 22. When play moved back out to the right, Benson's well-timed pass sent Lowry scurrying over in the corner.
Grayson took the sting out of that score with his second successful penalty, rewarding openside Douglas' work at the breakdown as the Scots took a 13-5 lead.
Although the scrum was a notable positive for Ulster, Edinburgh went in at the break with a 15-point buffer. Liam McConnell broke onto Grayson's partially-blocked kick and fed Satala to finish from the edge of the hosts' 22.
Ulster's defence was cut open for the try of the night, just three minutes after the restart. Precise passing from Currie, Bradbury, and Satala released Patterson for a terrific team effort, and a 27-5 scoreline.
A foot in touch prevented McCann from clawing back five points, before O'Conor and Patterson combined on an incisive break from halfway, the full-back gliding through for Edinburgh's bonus point try.
In response, Ulster debutant Matthew Devine lifted the tempo with a quickly-taken penalty, and despite Edinburgh's initial resistance, Murphy's men began to make more inroads.
A long, scooped pass from Benson saw newly-introduced hooker Walker rumble up close to the line before Ward picked to squeeze over in the left corner.
Jack Murphy drained the difficult conversion with aplomb, and Ulster's attack clicked again - with Robert Baloucoune becoming more of a threat - with 20 minutes remaining.
A free-flowing move showcased the best of the province's passing, with Tom McAllister, Ben Carson, and Murphy deftly opening the way for McCann to finish smartly from Donnell's final delivery.
Following another well-struck Murphy conversion from out wide, Ulster kept their foot on the gas. Knox duly burrowed over for their bonus point score, at the end of a quicksilver 64th-minute surge.
Suddenly, the margin was down to just eight points (34-26), thanks partly to a third coolly-struck conversion from Murphy. Raising the decibel level further, the Ulster fans sensed there was more to come.
A turnover penalty, won by centre Benson, helped to move the Ulstermen back into scoring range. A few minutes later, Ward was caught with a high tackle from O'Conor, and Murphy took the points on offer.
Edinburgh had some nervy moments during the closing stages, yet they were able to disrupt a late Ulster attack, and a well-won Euan McVie penalty at the breakdown was enough to seal the result.
TIME LINE: 4 minutes - Edinburgh penalty: missed by James Grayson - 0-0; 20 mins - Edinburgh try: Freddy Douglas - 0-5; conversion: James Grayson - 0-7; 24 mins - Edinburgh penalty: James Grayson - 0-10; 26 mins - Ulster try: Michael Lowry - 5-10; conversion: missed by Jack Murphy - 5-10; 28 mins - Edinburgh penalty: James Grayson - 5-13; 39 mins - Edinburgh try: Malelili Satala - 5-18; conversion: James Grayson - 5-20; Half-time - Ulster 5 Edinburgh 20; 43 mins - Edinburgh try: Hector Patterson - 5-25; conversion: James Grayson - 5-27; 48 mins - Edinburgh try: Piers O'Conor - 5-32; conversion: James Grayson - 5-34; 57 mins - Ulster try: Zac Ward - 10-34; conversion: Jack Murphy - 12-34; 61 mins - Ulster try: David McCann - 17-34; conversion: Jack Murphy - 19-34; 64 mins - Ulster try: Keynan Knox - 24-34; conversion: Jack Murphy - 26-34; 75 mins - Ulster penalty: Jack Murphy - 29-34; Full-time - Ulster 29 Edinburgh 34
ULSTER: Michael Lowry (capt); Robert Baloucoune, Ben Carson, Jamie Benson, Aitzol Arenzana-King; Jack Murphy, Conor McKee; Eric O'Sullivan, James McCormick, Eduardo Bello, Eli Snyman, Ben Donnell, David McCann, Martin Moloney, James McNabney.
Replacements used: Jake Flannery for Lowry (40 mins), Matthew Devine for McKee, Zac Ward for Baloucoune (both 44), Henry Walker for McCormick, Keynan Knox for Bello (both 49), Baloucoune for Arenzana-King (54), James McKillop for McNabney, Tom McAllister for O'Sullivan (both 63), Harry Sheridan for Donnell (75).
EDINBURGH: Piers O'Conor; Malelili Satala, Matt Currie (co-capt), Kienan Higgins, Geordie Gwynn; James Grayson, Hector Patterson; Alec Hepburn, Harri Morris, Paul Hill, Callum Hunter-Hill, Glen Young, Liam McConnell, Freddy Douglas, Magnus Bradbury (co-capt).
Replacements used: D'arcy Rae for Hill (51 mins), Tom Currie for Bradbury (55), Rory McHaffie for Gwynn, Jerry Blyth-Lafferty for Morris (both 61), Cammy Scott for Higgins (63), Euan McVie for Hunter-Hill (70), Conor McAlpine for Patterson (75), James Whitcombe for Hepburn (80).
Referee: Federico Vedovelli (FIR)
