Edinburgh seals second consecutive URC victory, inflicting 24-27 defeat on Ulster

Ulster Fall to Second Successive Defeat Against Edinburgh

In a thrilling encounter at Kingspan Stadium, Ulster suffered their second consecutive defeat in the United Rugby Championship, narrowly losing out 27-24 to Edinburgh.

The game started off on a nervy note for the visitors from Scotland as they struggled with handling issues in the bitterly cold evening of Belfast. Ulster took advantage and were quick to seize control as Tom Stewart powered over for the opening try after sustained pressure. John Cooney successfully converted from a tight angle, giving Ulster an early lead.

However, Edinburgh fought back resiliently. Ben Healy registered their first points with a penalty before Ben Vellacott darted over for a try to put them ahead. Healy’s successful conversion extended their lead further.

Undeterred by falling behind, Ulster responded quickly through Stewart’s second try of the game. Taking advantage of a line-out drive, he crossed the whitewash yet again and demonstrated why he has been such an influential player this season.

The first half concluded with scrappy play from both teams and Healy kicking another penalty to give Edinburgh a narrow advantage going into halftime.

A Game of Missed Opportunities

The second half saw more open play as both teams sought opportunities to score further tries. Stewart came close but was unable to reach the tryline while Jacob Stockdale fumbled just short of crossing it himself.

Ulster thought they had regained the lead through James Hume’s impressive effort, but unfortunately, it was disallowed after a review by the television match official.

Momentum started to shift towards Edinburgh as Pierre Schoeman powered over for their third try and Healy successfully converted once again. A disallowed try from James Lang further showcased Edinburgh’s dominance.

The visitors eventually sealed the victory with Robin Hislop touching down following a well-executed move involving Viliame Mata.

A Late Fightback

Despite being behind on the scoreboard, Ulster launched a late fightback. Robert Baloucoune weaved his way through challenges to score a crucial try that kept them in the game. However, Nathan Doak missed the conversion opportunity that could have brought them closer on points.

Injury struck both teams as Ben Moxham was carried off on a stretcher during this intense encounter.

As time ticked away, Ulster managed to score one final try through James Hume with Doak successful converting. Unfortunately for Ulster fans, it wasn’t enough to secure victory as Edinburgh held on until the final whistle.

Conclusion

This defeat marks Ulster’s third loss in their opening seven United Rugby Championship matches. The team showed resilience throughout but will need to address key areas of improvement if they want to bounce back stronger in future fixtures. Despite this setback, there were standout performances from Tom Stewart who recorded two tries and demonstrated his attacking prowess. Edinburgh showcased their determination and clinical finishing ability during this gripping encounter at Kingspan Stadium. Both teams deserve credit for an enthralling display of rugby; however, it is Edinburgh who can celebrate taking home the valuable win.