EDINBURGH 23
Tries: Bradbury, Katoa. Cons: Fowles 2. Pens: Fowles, Cuthbert 2.
ULSTER 10
Tries: Bowe, Trimble.
A YOUNG Edinburgh team shorn of its Rugby World Cup stars claimed a deserved 23-10 victory over Ulster at Goldenacre last night, reinforcing the positive impression made by the win over Romania at the Greenyards last week.
“The win on the back of the Romanian win will generate confidence,” Alan Solomons, the Edinburgh coach, said. “The Irish provinces are incredibly strong, so we’re expecting a tough [PRO12] game against Leinster next week, but we’ll be ready for it.”
After withstanding prolonged Ulster pressure, Edinburgh opened the scoring with a penalty from Nathan Fowles. The visitors soon hit back, however, and winger Tommy Bowe grabbed the first try of the night after a pass from his fellow-international Craig Gilroy.
With Ireland winger Andrew Trimble, who had been out with a toe injury, playing his first game for the province since last October, Ulster were particularly strong in the back three. But, while striving to keep the ball alive, they preferred close recycling in the pack to wide distribution, and their attacks for the rest of the first half foundered on a well-drilled defence.
Edinburgh made far better use of less possession, and shortly before half-time Magnus Bradbury, who had replaced Jamie Ritchie in the first of the evening’s flotilla of substitutions, restored their lead by forcing his way over after a series of rucks close to the try line. There was still time before the break for another try, this time with Otulea Katoa careering up the left wing. Fowled converted both scores to give
Solomons’ team a 17-5 lead at the break.
An excellent run by Damien Hoyland was the closest either team came to scoring in the third quarter. Trimble then grabbed his team’s second try to reduce the leeway to seven points, but Jack Cuthbert restored some breathing space with two penalties.
Edinburgh: N McLennan; T Brown, C Dean, A Strauss, O Katoa; P Burleigh, N Fowles; G Shiells, N Cochrane, J Andress, A Bresler, F McKenzie, J Ritchie, R Grant, C du Preez. Substitutes: J Hilterbrand, A Dell, C Bachurzewski, A Toolis, M Coman, S Kennedy, B Kinghorn, S Beard, G Turner, R Sutherland, B Toolis, M Bradbury, H Watson, N Manu, J Johnstone, D Fife, D Hoyland, J Cuthbert.
Ulster: C Gilroy; T Bowe, L Marshall, S McCloskey, A Trimble; I Humphreys, P Marshall; A Warwick, R Herring, W Herbst, D Tuohy, F van der Merwe, C Ross, W Faloon, R Diack. Substitutes: P Jackson, R Murphy, R Lutton, P Browne, S Reidy, D Shanahan, S Windsor, S Arnold, L Ludik, P Nelson, C Joyce.
Referee: S Grove-White. Attendance: 2,124.
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