Ulster v Edinburgh, Friday 17th September

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

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Ulster: J Smith; P Emerick, D Cave, I Whitten, A Trimble; N O'Connor, P Marshall; B Young, A Kyriacou, T Court, J Muller (capt), R Caldwell, S Ferris, C Henry, R Diack.
Replacements: R Best, P McAllister, BJ Botha, T Barker, P Wannenburg, I Porter, I Humphreys, D McIlwaine.


Edinburgh: C Paterson; M Robertson, B Cairns, A Grove, T Visser; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, S MacLeod, C Hamilton, S Newlands, N Talei, R Grant (capt).
Replacements: A Kelly, K Traynor, J Gilding, S McInally, D Denton, G Laidlaw, D Blair, J Houston.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

A beautifully judged cross kick from Niall O'Connor to Andrew Trimble makes it 5-0 to Ulster after just 3 minutes. Robertson whiffed on the tackle. O'Connor misses the conversion.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

A Chris Paterson penalty narrows the gap but Ulster extend their lead with a Niall O'Connor penalty after great work from Andrew Trimble, his 1st successful kick from 3 attempts. 8-3, 14 minutes gone.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Second Ulster try scored by Ian Whitten. Paul Marshall and Niall O'Connor were instrumental is putting him away. O'Connor's having a very good game, goalkicking apart. He misses the difficult conversion attempt. 13-3, 24 minutes on the clock.

Edit - Edinburgh respond almost immediately with a successful penalty. 13-6.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Half time and it's 13-6 to Ulster. Chris Paterson missed a gimme just before the break which should have reduced the gap to 4 points. Edinburgh grew into the game in the last 15 minutes of the half.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

19-16 to Ulster. Edinburgh scored a terrific try through Tim Visser who danced his way down the left wing handing opponents off for fum. Ulster are beginning to unload the heavy hitters off the bench - both BJ Botha, Pedrie Wannenberg and Rory Best are on now.

55 minutes gone.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Individual try for Darren Cave opens up a 13 point lead. 29-16 with 10 minutes to go. Ulster should push for a bonus point win.

Edit - Once again Ulster give up a score immediately after scoring. Ben Cairns takes advantage of sloppy defence for a try of his own. Conversion missed leaving the gap at 8 points with 7 minutes to go. 29-21

 

[Conal]

good win for ulster good to see trimble in action again
some promising play out there tonight

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Full time. 29-21 to Ulster. A deserved victory and Paul Marshall was well worth his Man of the Match award. The margin could have been bigger had O'Connor brought his kicking boots (but he was pretty good in open play).

Next week they travel to Connacht in a top of the table clash - who would have thought that?!

 

[Conal]

margin could have been bigger had O'Connor brought his kicking boots (but he was pretty good in open play).

o'connor i have to say isnt as poo as last year it seems

 

[durbutter]

Ulster really should have got the bonus point. Zero composure when going for the kill.

Also Edinburgh were cat.

 

[Peat]

Marshall went very well when he was on but for my money, Ryan "The Full 70" Caldwell should have got that MotM.

Annoying not to get the bonus point win, but 3 from 3 will do me nicely!

Beginning to feel slight tinges of optimism.