Edinburgh got their United Rugby Championship campaign off to a blistering start with a thrilling triumph at Ravenhill – but only after surviving a brave second-half comeback from Ulster.
Sean Everitt’s side went into the season curtain-raiser in the midst of an injury crisis that this week saw Scotland winger Darcy Graham join their growing casualty list. But the capital men belied their rotten luck and low expectations as they set about the hosts with intent, opening up a commanding 34-5 lead early in the second half.
Ulster clawed it back to within five points in a frantic finish but the visitors held firm to escape with victory.
Admitting he was concerned as the Irish side found their rhythm, Everitt said: ‘It’s a difficult place to come and play and we’d be fools to think they weren’t going to come back.
‘The momentum shifted quickly and we just couldn’t slow them down. Yes, it got quite nervous in the end!’
Edinburgh played their hosts off the pitch in the first 55 minutes as the hard work of their new coaching set-up bore fruit in impressive fashion. Freddy Douglas, Malelili Satala, Hector Patterson and Piers O’Conor all crossed for tries, with James Grayson converting them all and adding two penalties.
Piers O’Conor takes the acclaim as Edinburgh surge into a commanding 34-5 lead in Ulster
That saw Edinburgh hold what seemed an unassailable 29-point lead, yet slowly but surely Ulster got a foothold and scored three tries inside ten minutes courtesy of Zac Ward, David McCann and Keynan Knox.
All of a sudden, the home crowd sensed a comeback for the ages – and when Jack Murphy kicked a penalty to reduce the lead to five with five minutes to play, Edinburgh looked rattled.
But, showing a steel that has been lacking for too long in recent seasons, Everitt’s dug in to claim a fantastic opening result.
