[tag=image]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/e ... y_logo.jpg[/tag][tag=content]Ulster got back to winning ways in the Guinness Pro12 with a 30-0 victory over Edinburgh at the Kingspan Stadium, gaining a late bonus point through a last-minute Andrew Trimble try.
It was a late flourish from the Ulstermen, who again were not at their best, with three tries in the last twenty minutes from Nick Williams, Rory Best and Andrew Trimble securing the extra point following Trimble’s first half effort.
By contrast, the Scottish visitors, who offered surprisingly little in the way of a contest, didn’t manage to register even a single point and were thoroughly outplayed all evening in a game that was far from a classic.
It may not have been a classic, but Ulster went about their business efficiently with Paddy Jackson opening his account with a well-struck penalty after thirteen minutes.
By contrast, Jack Cuthbert wasn’t having as good a night with the boot as he saw an effort drift wide of the uprights four minutes later.
Jackson was not flawless though and squandered a chance to double Ulster’s advantage just after the twenty minute mark from right in front of the posts.
But Jackson’s errant goal kicking was not to deter Ulster’s efforts and only a minute later they had their opening try, Stuart McCloskey bursting through two tackles before feeding Andrew Trimble for the winger to score.
The rather flat crowd were lifted, however it was only momentarily as the game descended into a mundane kicking battle which neither team seemed intent on winning.
Indeed, Ulster weren’t facing too many problems from their opponents and would have been disappointed to enter the half-time interval with just a 13-0 lead, granted by Jackson’s second penalty of the game.
In the second half it was a different story as Edinburgh immediately went on the offensive, even turning down an easy three points to go for the line, however their efforts went unrewarded.
Instead it was down to Tommy Bowe to show the Scottish side how to cross the line, picking up a loose pass and finding space to squeeze over, only for the score to be chalked off for a forward pass in the 55th minute.
Mike Coman’s yellow card midway through the second period went a long way to aiding Ulster’s efforts and although Nick Williams had a try ruled out by the TMO, he was able to burrow his way over a minute later for one that counted.
And with a man extra in the pack, it was a straightforward catch-and-drive maul that handed Ulster their third try of the night, Rory Best the benefactor of a superb all-round forward effort.
It looked as if the fourth try, and the bonus point, was going to elude Ulster at the death, especially whenever a driving maul was stopped agonisingly short of the line.
But right at the end it was Trimble, the man who started it all off, who finished it all off too with a superb finish in the corner following a smart pass over the top by Paul Marshall.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Trimble (2), Williams, Best
Cons: Jackson, Olding
Pens: Jackson (2)
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Louis Ludik (Darren Cave 56), Andrew Trimble, Jared Payne, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy Bowe, Paddy Jackson (Stuart Olding 27, 60), Paul Marshall; (1-8) Ruaidhri Murphy (Andrew Warwick 40), Rory Best (Rob Herring 69), Wiehahn Herbst (Bronson Ross 62), Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe (Lewis Stevenson 69), Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Roger Wilson (Nick Williams 50).
Subs not used: Michael Heaney.
EDINBURGH RUGBY
(15-9) Greig Tonks (Nick McLennan 39, 69), Jack Cuthbert, Sam Beard, Andries Strauss, Tim Visser, Phil Burleigh (Tom Heathcote 69), Sean Kennedy (Sam Hidalgo-Clyne 56); (1-8) Rory Sutherland (Allan Dell 40), Ross Ford (James Hilterbrand 56), John Andress (Willem Nel 44), Anton Bresler, Grant Gilchrist (Ollie Atkins 39), Mike Coman, Roddy Grant (Tomas Leonardi 50), Cornell du Preez.
Yellow card: Mike Coman (59)
Man of the Match: Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)
Referee: Claudio Blessano (Italy)[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 30-0 Edinburgh Rugby
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