EDINBURGH’S top-six ambitions took a big blow last night as Ulster’s rampant back-line cut them apart in a stunning first-half at Ravenhill.
Despite getting off to a great start thanks to Magnus Bradbury’s second-minute try, Duncan Hodge’s side were torn asunder by All Black Charles Piutau, who helped his side to the bonus-point by the interval.
Edinburgh did hit back through Stuart McInally, but the Scots were second best in the loose and were also dominated at scrum-time by the in-form Ulster pack.
But Edinburgh claimed an unlikely losing bonus-point with a brighter second-half performance as Damien Hoyland’s try and a penalty from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne saw Edinburgh claim a point for the second week in a row.
And it had gotten off to a great start for the Scottish side, who dominated possession from the kick-off and eventually scored in the second minute when Jason Tovey’s flat pass allowed Blair Kinghorn send Bradbury over in the left corner.
Against an Ulster side that has been plagued with a lack of confidence of late, it was a brilliant start, but with marquee signing Marcell Coetzee finally making his debut and Piutau inspired on the wing, Ulster began to impress.
The levelling score arrived after 10 minutes when a big Alan O’Connor carry and Stuart Olding offload was finished off by Paul Marshall, a try that Peter Nelson converted.
That 7-5 lead was soon 12-7 when Marshall sent Darren Cave over in the corner after 19 minutes, but the concession of possession from Edinburgh’s own scrum was the origin of the move.
Edinburgh had a huge chance to pull level in the 22nd minute, but Tovey and Hoyland couldn’t link up when it looked easier to score from close range.
That missed chance proved a real turning point as Louis Ludik soon ran in Ulster’s third try, but the unstoppable running of Piutau drew in four defenders, which made the yawning gap.
And seven minutes from the break, Ulster’s bonus-point try arrived down the right when Robbie Diack’s inside pass gave Jacob Stockdale and easy run to the line.
It looked like being a whitewash for Edinburgh at that stage as the Ulster backs cut through them at every opportunity, but four minutes from the break McInally – a late call up for Neil Cochrane – scored off the back of a rolling maul to leave it 24-19 at the interval.
The home side continued to dominate after the break, but they lost star winger Piutau to an ankle injury after 50 minutes, although the introduction of Lion Tommy Bowe didn’t weaken their hand.
Edinburgh were also plagued by injury with the loss of Kinghorn early in the second-half – and Jamie Ritchie and Michael Allen to head injuries late – but they managed to get back in the game when a lovely soft pass from Ritchie sent Hoyland in for a try.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne missed the tough conversion as Edinburgh held a nine-point lead, but the scrum-half was on the mark with a penalty 16 minutes from time to earn the losing bonus-point.
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