Excellent game management from Ulster edged out Edinburgh in a low-scoring encounter in the rain-drenched Scottish capital, as three successful Paddy Jackson penalties steered the visitors to a 9-3 win.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: EDINBURGH 3 ULSTER 9
The poor weather conditions and a patchy Murrayfield pitch put paid to any chance of a free-flowing rugby match in which the likes of Jared Payne, Tommy Bowe and Craig Gilroy could thrive.
However, Mark Anscombe’s charges did enough of the unspectacular yet essential groundwork to maintain their challenge for a top four spot in the RaboDirect PRO12.
Stephen Ferris started his first game in 16 months after proving his fitness in a 20-minute cameo last weekend against the Scarlets, while Gilroy, Luke Marshall and Iain Henderson also returned to the Ulster starting line-up.
Michael Heaney deputised at scrum half for the injured Ruan Pienaar with Tom Court taking over from the similarly indisposed Callum Black at loosehead prop, while the fit-again Dan Tuohy was named on the bench alongside Academy prop Ricky Warwick for his first ever senior selection.
A strong start from the Scottish side kept Ulster camped in their own half for a good seven minutes before Jackson got the opportunity to relieve some pressure with a deep penalty to touch.
Edinburgh persisted, however, and fully deserved their lead established through Carl Bezuidenhout’s 14th-minute penalty from halfway.
Edinburgh’s South African out-half could have doubled the lead five minutes later after Henderson had been sin-bined for a dangerous tip tackle, but his kick fell short of the post and Jackson wasted no time in levelling from the Scots’ 22-metre line with a penalty of his own.
Ulster looked to build on their first points from the restart, but with their back-three virtual pedestrians due to slippery conditions and a monopoly on the ball enjoyed by the forwards front, the province struggled to put together a move of any fluency or dynamism.
Their pack did well to win a penalty from a 36th minute scrum though and Jackson was again on hand to slot home and edge his side ahead at 6-3.
A third effort from Jackson moments later – this one from a good 45 metres out – just lacked the sufficient distance, and with half-time looming Ulster defended a hefty Edinburgh onslaught exceptionally well to ensure they ran off at the break with a narrow lead.
Robbie Diack replaced Ferris at the interval, and with centre Marshall offering a strong line-break on 44 minutes Ulster began to put together a series of promising moves, culminating with the award of another penalty dispatched from the right wing by Jackson.
Ulster enjoyed the majority of possession as the half progressed, and with Nick Williams a 54th-minute replacement for Roger Wilson, the 19-stone Kiwi’s bulk was well-employed as the visitors began to clearly dominate at scrum time.
Scoring chances remained at a premium, however, with both Bowe and Payne frustrated by poor distribution on the rare occasions they got the chance to handle the ball.
Marshall again did well to break a couple of tackles on 72 minutes, creating the space for Jackson to pop a drop goal attempt at the posts which spun just wide of the right hand upright.
Nevertheless, Ulster continued to make all of the running until a final surge from the hosts saw scrum half Grayson Hart make good ground down the right wing.
Anscombe’s men managed to keep the attack at bay until referee John Lacey eventually blew for full-time with the Scots penalised for holding on in the tackle.
Thanks to this hard-fought triumph Ulster temporarily climb above Munster into second place on 59 points, ahead of their provincial rivals’ home match against Benetton Treviso on Saturday.
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