Ulster closed out by Edinburgh
from BBC Sport
Edinburgh produced a second-half fightback to beat Ulster as the visitors wilted in the Heineken Cup clash at Murrayfield.
Two Phil Godman penalties helped Edinburgh lead 6-0 but Timoci Nagusa's try put Ulster 10-6 ahead at half-time.
An Ian Humphreys penalty extended Ulster's advantage but he then missed another straightforward chance.
Edinburgh dominated thereafter and Tim Visser's try and two Godman penalties gave the home side a deserved win.
With Chris Paterson ruled out before the start because of a viral infection, Godman assumed Edinburgh's kicking duties and he edged the home side ahead with an early penalty and then repeated the dose for a 6-0 advantage.
However, it was a largely cagey opening 20 minutes from both sides with neither managing to create a try-scoring chance.
But almost out of nothing, Ulster suddenly took a 7-6 lead in the 22nd minute with in-form winger Nagusa scoring his fourth try in as many matches.
Paddy Wallace's burst in midfield had moved Ulster into the Edinburgh 22 and Nagusa's pick-and-go from the resultant rock enabled the Fijian to dive over, with Humphreys adding the extras.
Godman missed a great chance to put Edinburgh back into the lead almost immediately and Humphreys then extended Ulster's advantage with a successful penalty.
The Edinburgh fly-half's struggles with the boot continued before the break as he missed another penalty chance.
A Geoff Cross indiscretion immediately after the re-start enabled Humphreys to extend Ulster's lead to 13-6.
However, the Ulster fly-half then squandered a glorious chance to extend his team's lead to 10 points with a pulled effort from a central position, 30 metres out.
The miss seemed to give the home side renewed belief as their pack took a complete stranglehold.
Edinburgh should have notched a try on 55 minutes when they had an overlap but Nick De Luca opted to go for glory himself instead of passing to Visser.
But Edinburgh were firmly in control and Godman's penalty on 67 minutes left only four between the sides.
With the Ulster tank seemingly empty, Edinburgh were in front two minutes later at Visser charged over in the corner.
Godman missed the difficult conversion but Edinburgh were now firmly on the front foot.
Visser should have notched a second try in two minutes but he seemed to lose his bearings by attempting a pass instead of allowing his momentum to carry him over the Ulster line.
As Edinburgh continued to dominate, Godman added another penalty in the final minute as Ulster's hopes of qualification suffered a massive blow, despite their bonus point.
Edinburgh coach Rob Moffat:
"I was always confident even when Ulster were ahead.
"Ulster fly up in defence and are very difficult to play against. I was pleased that we didn't panic and try to counter-attack when it wasn't on.
"In the second half we kept going and by the end we were the better side by a long way."
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin:
"I'm very disappointed with how we played throughout and with the second half in particular.
"In that time we kicked pooryly, didn't chase well and let them back in the game.
"They caused us problems at the break down and we lost line-out ball three times in their 22."
Edinburgh: Jones; Robertson, De Luca, Houston, Visser; Godman, Blair (captain); Traynor, Ford, Cross, Turnbull, MacLeod, MacDonald, Grant, Hogg.
Replacements: Cairns for Robertson 58, Laidlaw for M Blair 68, Jacobsen for Traynor 58, C Hamilton for S Turnbull 42, Newlands for Hogg 58.
Not Used: Kelly, Young, A. Turnbull.
Ulster: Schifcofske; Nagusa, Cave, Wallace, Trimble; Humphreys, Boss; Court, Kyriacou, Botha, O'Donoghue, Caldwell, Ferris, Faloon, Diack.
Replacements: Danielli for Nagusa 62, Marshall for Boss 79, Young for Court 62, Brady for Kyriacou 68, D Fitzpatrick for Botha 68, Tuohy for Caldwell 49, Henry for Faloon 72.
Not Used: Whitten.
Referee: Dave Pearson (England)
Assistant Referees: David Keane (IRFU), K Beggs (IFRU).
