Ulster under pressure as Edinburgh snatch late win

LATE scores by Tim Visser and Phil Godman ensured Edinburgh claimed their first win of this season’s Heineken Cup campaign as they came from behind to deny Ulster.

With just over 10 minutes remaining Visser went over for an unconverted try before Godman sealed victory with a last-minute penalty.

Ulster head coach Brian McLaughlin was far from happy afterwards. “I’m very disappointed with how we played throughout and with the second half in particular, he said. “In that time we kicked poorly, 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.”

Surveying where Ulster stand now in the competition, McLaughlin added: “We came with the intention of winning in order to top a very tight group. If we are to qualify we now have to win our two home games against Stade Francais and Edinburgh and try to get something in Paris.

“However, I’m very happy to have the losing bonus point. That is the positive from playing so poorly.”

Edinburgh had gone down to Stade Francais in their opener while Ulster had beaten Bath and the spirits of the Edinburgh fans among the crowd of 5,747 will have sunk before kick-off with the news that multi-capped, multi-points kicking full-back Chris Paterson was out with a viral infection and replaced by Steve Jones.

However, his kicking replacement, Godman, gave his side the best possible start by kicking a penalty in the first minute from just inside the Ulster half.

In the 20th minute a drive from a lineout brought another penalty on the Ulster 22 which Godman converted .

However, from the restart the game swung in Ulster’s favour. Winger Timoci Nagusa broke from the edge of the ruck and left the Edinburgh defence standing as he cut inside to score under the posts from where Humphreys converted.

Things got worse for Edinburgh as, after Godman had missed a long penalty, Humphreys kicked one to open the gap to 10-6.

Edinburgh at last got some zip into their play as the interval beckoned but Godman had a drop goal charged down and then missed his second penalty.

Ulster began the second half with a slick penalty to touch, a lineout drive, followed by a penalty against Edinburgh which was kicked by Humphreys.

Again Edinburgh raised the pace and, following a penetrative run by Roddy Grant, Nick De Luca was held up on the line.

Further Edinburgh pressure brought a penalty which Godman struck home on 67 minutes.

And even better was to follow two minutes later when Godman set De Luca free. He carved an opening before releasing Dutch winger Tim Visser who got over in the corner for an unconverted try. Godman confirmed the win with a last-minute penalty.

Edinburgh scorers: Scorers: Try – T Visser; Penalty – P Godman (4)

Ulster scorers: Scorers: Try – T Nagusa; Conversion – I Humphreys; Penalty – I Humphreys (2)

EDINBURGH: S Jones, M Robertson (B Cairns 60), N De Luca, J Houston, T Visser, P Godman, M Blair [capt] (G Laidlaw 68), K Traynor (A Jacobsen 60), R Ford, G Cross, S Turnbull (C Hamilton 42), S MacLeod, A MacDonald, R Grant, A Hogg (S Newlands 60)

ULSTER: C Schifcofske, T Nagusa (S Danielli 61), D Cave, P Wallace [capt], A Trimble, I Humphreys, I Boss (P Marshall 78), T Court (B Young 61), A Kyriacou (N Brady 68), B Botha (D Fitzpatrick 68), E O’Donoghue, R Caldwell (D Tuohy 49), S Ferris, W Faloon (C Henry 71), R Diack

Referee: D Pearson (England).