Ulster edge eight-try thriller against youthful Edinburgh

Edinburgh Rugby were narrowly beaten 26-28 by URC rivals Ulster in a pulsating pre-season friendly at Hive Stadium, as a host of the club’s younger players seized their chance to impress in a genuine back-and-forth contest.

With both sides using the fixture to blow off the cobwebs and hand opportunities to those pushing for involvement in the season ahead, the game rarely paused for breath, swinging one way and then the other before Ulster held on at the death.

It was the visitors who settled quicker, hooker James McCormack powering over from close range to open the scoring.

Edinburgh’s response came within minutes. Mosisese Tuipulotu broke the gainline with real intent before finding centre partner Geordie Gwynn, who showed good power to wrestle his way over the whitewash. James Grayson added the extras to level things up at 7-7.

That parity didn’t last long. Ulster took control for the next ten minutes, crossing twice more through Aitzol Arenzana-King and Matthew Devine to stretch their lead out to 21-7.

Edinburgh needed a response before the break, and got one. A penalty deep in Ulster territory was kicked to the corner, and from the resulting lineout drive Edinburgh camped on the visitors’ line.

It was scrum-half Hector Paterson who showed the sharpest thinking, snaffling his way over to make it a one-score game, 14-21, at half-time.

Edinburgh used the interval to make a full change across their starting XV, handing further game time to those in the squad looking to state their case.

It took Ulster little time to punish the reshuffle, however, with Sullivan grabbing his second try of the night from close range to push the lead back out.

But with the elements now behind them, Edinburgh dug in. Prop Paul Hill bludgeoned his way over the whitewash to make it 21-28, bringing the margin back to a single score with real momentum behind the home side.

Edinburgh kept their foot on the gas. Jerry Blyth-Lafferty and Kienan Higgins both carried well and broke the gainline as the pressure told, before it was one of the smallest men on the pitch who produced the moment of the match.

With the pack rumbling towards the whitewash, scrum-half Conor McAlpine peeled away sharp as a knife to dive over for Edinburgh’s fourth try of the evening.

Ross Thompson’s conversion attempt cannoned back off the post, leaving Ulster narrowly ahead at 26-28.

Edinburgh pushed for a winning score in the closing five minutes, but Ulster’s defence held firm and they saw the game out to secure the win.

While the result didn’t go Edinburgh’s way, there was plenty for the coaching staff to be pleased with, as a clutch of younger players took their chance in a high-tempo, high-quality run-out against quality URC opposition.