United Rugby Championship: Seven-try Edinburgh crush Ulster to seal play-off spot


A frenetic opening saw Edinburgh blow two big chances from close-range line-outs only to recover and cut Ulster open soon after, Graham being the man doing the cutting.

Wes Goosen put the wing through a gap and ran all the way to the posts at a packed Hive Stadium. Nice start for the home team needing a bonus-point win to make the knockouts. Not so nice for Ulster, who were only playing for pride.

And it got better soon after as they turned the screw. Another close-range line-out but this time they executed, Bradbury blasting his way through what was left of the Ulster defence.

With a lead of 12-0 and all the momentum, Edinburgh then got hit between the eyes by Ulster’s response. The visitors got a penalty try when Graham, in an attempt at cutting out what would have been a try-scoring pass to Zac Ward, deliberately knocked-on.

Graham was sent to the bin for his troubles. He was only in there a few minutes when Ulster levelled through Kok, who picked up and crashed over after Wes Goosen failed to deal with a routine chip through.

The home team regained the initiative in quick order. From another line-out inside the Ulster 22, Ashman went like the clappers and thundered over. Ross Thompson converted and the gap was seven.

The Graham yellow-card spell finished 7-5 to Edinburgh and Sean Everitt’s team were a step closer to the last eight. As long as they won, which is rarely easy for Edinburgh with their propensity for drama.

There was no such vulnerability this time. Edinburgh began the new half powerfully. When Hamish Watson, playing wonderfully, whipped Nathan Doak into touch near his own line, Edinburgh had the attacking platform they needed.

It took a few attempts but Bradbury eventually put them into bonus-point land after a tap and drive near the posts. Thompson’s conversion stretched the lead out to 14.

Schoeman added a fifth just before the hour, the Lion barrelling over from a few metres. Thompson converted. Postlethwaite struck and Graham turned one try into three in quick order. Relief and delight at the Hive.



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