Ulster warmed up a chilly Ravenhill with a five-try bonanza as they proved too good for the returning Alan Solomons’ Edinburgh, with Craig Gilroy (2), Paul Marshall, captain Robbie Diack and man-of-the-match James McKinney helping themselves to tries.
VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS: ULSTER 41 EDINBURGH 17
Out-half James McKinney, deputising for the Ireland-tied Paddy Jackson, did his rising stock no harm whatsoever with a 100% kicking record on the night, as Ulster moved up to third in the RaboDirect PRO12 table with their third bonus point victory of the campaign.
Edinburgh – without a win in Belfast since 2009 – enjoyed a bright opening courtesy of a sprightly rolling maul in the third minute.
But a series of knock-ons in quick succession put paid to their early dominance, with Michael Allen’s speed and Darren Cave’s dexterity impressing once Ulster got their hands on the ball.
However, both Allen and Craig Gilroy were helpless to withstand number 8 Cornell du Preez as he latched onto Sam Hidalgo-Clyne’s pass on the right wing, the South African brushing the Ulster winger from his path and touching down just over the line before full-back Gilroy could get to grips with a tackle.
Harry Leonard’s conversion attempt fell short and as McKinney’s penalty looped just over the crossbar moments later, the deficit sat at a mere two points at the end of the first quarter.
With Dan Tuohy replacing the injured Iain Henderson and Allen then succumbing to a knock, Ricky Andrew came on at full-back – a switch which in turn liberated the versatile Gilroy to assume his more familiar position on the left wing.
Soon after, a sublime break through midfield from Andrew took out a number of defenders and an astute kick from stand-in captain Robbie Diack, followed by brisk recycling from Paul Marshall, created the space for Gilroy to touch down acrobatically by the corner flag.
McKinney’s impressive kicking continued as he dispatched the conversion from the left for a five-point lead on the half hour mark.
Andrew impressed again with a focused take of the high ball at the restart, picking himself up and launching a raid similar to that which had led to Gilroy’s try, before the impressive Cave took over just outside the 22.
The Ireland-capped centre jinked and weaved a labyrinthine path through the Scottish defence, evading five or six tackles before releasing the ball as he was eventually grounded.
Marshall’s improvisational skills compensated for what the pass lacked in accuracy, as the scrum half clipped the ball onwards with his foot and dived under the posts for the province’s second try, once again converted by McKinney.
The out-half capped an exemplary first half display with a penalty just on the stroke of half-time, bringing his personal tally to 10 points for the evening and giving Mark Anscombe’s men a 20-5 buffer.
Ulster’s display in the second period was just as dynamic as their efforts in the first. Despite some spirited early attacks from the visitors, the Ulster line rarely looked in jeopardy thanks to the stubbornness of their defence, and in attack Cave, Andrew and Gilroy continued to show their calibre.
However it was the forwards – and busy scrum half Marshall – who were to thank for the third try in the 60th minute, which came just after Edinburgh lock Izak van der Westhuizen had been sent to the sin-bin.
Marshall picked up at the back of a powerful heave from the lineout and supplied Diack who crashed over just by the posts. McKinney made it five kicks from five with his conversion.
It was soon six from six for the Malone clubman, as the ever alert Gilroy prospered from a very loose pass from out-half Leonard and ran in virtually unopposed in the 64th minute.
The icing on the cake for McKinney came three minutes later. He benefited from a brave charge-down by Tom Court in the 22 and a superb offload out of the tackle from fellow replacement Mike McComish as he touched down in the left corner for a fully-deserved fifth try.
The former Ireland Under-20 international converted his own score and although once back to their full complement Edinburgh grabbed two late consolation tries through Dougie Fife and Grayson Hart – the second try was converted – nothing could detract from a very encouraging Ulster performance.
The province now face four consecutive clashes with Italian opposition, firstly away to Zebre in the PRO12 next Saturday before the back-to-back Heineken Cup ties with Benetton Treviso and then their final pre-Christmas fixture at home to Zebre on Friday, December 20.
This website uses cookies.
Read More