Edinburgh seal victory over Ulster with explosive first-half onslaught

Edinburgh defeated high-flying Ulster at Murrayfield on friday night thanks to a spirited opening display that saw the home side score all but three of their points in the opening 20 minutes.

Edinburgh went ahead within two minutes after Ulster were penalised for being offside and Phil Godman converted the easy kick.

Only four minutes later, quick thinking from captain Mike Blair released the Edinburgh backs, allowing wing Andrew Turnbull to scythe through the visiting defence and make 60 metres to take the home side into the opposition 22. From the resultant ruck, quick hands through the back line saw Hugo Southwell score one of the easiest tries of his career in the corner. Phil Godman converted to give Edinburgh a 10-0 lead after 8 minutes.

This was not the start Ulster had envisioned after their 37-11 victory over Munster the week before. Their win signalled the end of Munster’s unbeaten home record that—amazingly—stretched back to 1995.

Ulster stand-off Ian Humphreys and Godman exchanged penalties before Jim Hamilton extended the home side’s lead with a try. Blair’s kick ahead was snatched at by Ulster winger Mark McCrea who fumbled the ball for Edinburgh centre John Houston to pick up only eight metres from the Ulster line. Roddy Grant, earning his first Edinburgh start of the season, drove the ball up to the line and popped the ball to the 6'8'' Hamilton who only had to drop over the line to score.

However, Ulster were soon let back into the game by an undisciplined Edinburgh defence that gifted Humphreys with two more penalties before half time.

A penalty a piece for Godman and Humphreys were the only highlights in the first 39 minutes of the second half where both teams failed to exert any sustained pressure on the oppositions defensive line. Edinburgh kept the visitor’s in their own half through some astute tactical kicking and Ulster’s inability to catch a single kick fielded by the home side.

Ulster will be buoyed by a last minute successful penalty by centre Paddy Wallace which gained them a losing bonus point for staying within seven points of the winners. Conversely, Edinburgh will be satisfied with a win in what was expected to be a much tougher match. The four points keeps them in contention for the Magners League title – although they may be left to rue gifting Ulster the losing bonus point come the end of the season.

Edinburgh head coach Andy Robinson appeared in jovial spirits after the game claiming: “I would have switched off the television at half-time.”

Robinson conceded that the second half performance was below par for both teams, however reiterated his belief that his side deserved the four points: “It was an ugly second half from both sides; however I felt we deserved the win as we scored the two tries.