Four out of Four for Edinburgh in PRO12 League
Edinburgh overcame their fourth opponent in this year’s Guinness PRO12 competition at BT Murrayfield on Friday night to cement their place at the head of the table with a 100% winning record. Their opponents were Ulster and the Irish side, like their Scottish counterparts, were short of several ‘headline’ players away on International duty. However, Alan Solomon’s young side are making headlines of their own this season.
It took the home side four minutes to open the scoring with a Greg Tonks penalty following a good start which saw the hosts penetrate deep into the opposition 22.
Edinburgh then edged the territorial battle for the next quarter of an hour and another penalty at the breakdown from Tonks saw the score out to 6-0 on the 18 minute mark.
Ulster then put in a period of play more in keeping with their reputation and nearly broke Edinburgh’s defensive line on a couple of occasions. Reward came in the 24th minute from the boot of No. 10, Peter Nelson to take the score to 6-3
Edinburgh came closest to scoring before the break, but lost the ball to a turnover when pressing on the Ulster five metre line, but there were no additions to the score which remained 6-3 at half time.
Ulster were first on the score board in the second half with a try from fine forward play down the right. Edinburgh had started well, but lost the ball and the visitors took full advantage. Andrew Trimble collected his own chip over the defence and immediately put the home side on the back foot. A couple of plays later and flanker, Sean Reidy was propelled through try line ruck for the first try of the match. Nelson then slotted home the conversion to put the visiting side in the lead at 10-3 five minutes into the second half.
Once again, Edinburgh proved their worth and dominated play over the next ten minutes. Attacks down both wings, employing the hyperactive Damien Hoyland and new signing, Will Helu, had the Ulster defence scrambling to cover and, eventually, a break down the left by Helu saw the ball shifted out to No. 8, Nasi Manu, on the wing. He was supported by Hamish Watson, who was then on hand to receive the final pass inside the 22 which put the Edinburgh open side in the clear, with a straight run in for his try. Tonks scored with his kick – interrupted rather unprofessionally by an Ulster medic running on to see to one of his player between Tonks and the posts – and Edinburgh were now back in the lead at 13-10.
Tonks scored another penalty 10 minutes later for 16-10, but the remainder of the match saw Edinburgh mostly defending desperately to keep the Ulster attacking play at bay.
Final relief for the support came in overtime as Ulster ended their five metre line encampment with a turnover to close the match on a winning score for the hosts at 16-10.
Images from the match will appear here over the next few days.
