Edinburgh stun Ulster in Belfast as Stormers get back to winning ways

Edinburgh claimed an impressive 27-22 win over Ulster in their United Rugby Championship clash at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast on Saturday night.

Despite four tries for the hosts through a Tom Stewart double, and late scores from Robert Baloucoune and James Hume, it was not to be for Ulster who took two points from the loss.

Edinburgh, inspired by a Ben Healy performance which included three conversions and two penalties, played extremely well with their tries coming from Ben Vellacott, Pierre Schoeman and Robin Hislop.

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Ulster opened the scoring after five minutes when Stewart smashed over and through Vellacott after peeling off a maul. John Cooney converted to put Ulster 7-0 in front.

They came close to increasing their lead five minutes later after Baloucoune’s take of a high ball, but Nick Timoney was felled by Wes Goosen close to the line ahead of Jamie Ritchie’s breakdown steal.

Then following a scrum penalty against Ulster, Healy landed a long-range penalty to cut the lead to four points.

On 24 minutes, Edinburgh launched a dynamic attack off a penalty which resulted in skipper Vellacott reaching over the Ulster line after good approach work by Schoeman and Jamie Hodgson. Healy converted and the Scots now led 10-7.

The half ended when Edinburgh secured a penalty following a lineout turnover, Healy slotting the straightforward chance from the tee to put the visitors back in front at the break by 13-12.

Hume then got over the line after a huge amount of Ulster pressure, but the score was ruled out after Baloucoune was adjudged to have juggled the ball forward.

After absorbing a huge period of Ulster pressure, Edinburgh lifted the siege and when visiting the home team’s 22, Schoeman drove over from close range after some close-in drives. Healy converted and Edinburgh now led 20-12.

Their lead could have been increased when James Lang got over in the corner only for the score to be ruled out due to a foot in touch.

But the visitors came again and after a sweeping move up the middle with the ball spread left and right, replacement Hislop surged over, again from close range. Healy converted and Edinburgh now led 27-12.

Ulster had to respond and did so with just seven minutes left when Stewart put Baloucoune over, but Doak was unable to convert.

Ulster were then reduced to 14 when Ben Moxham was stretchered off – there were no subs left to bring on – but then so were Edinburgh when Harry Patterson was shown yellow in the 77th minute.

Hume struck with the last play to earn Ulster two points – a try bonus and narrow defeat – the final act being Doak’s conversion.

Stormers back to winning ways

The Capetonians bucked a four-game losing streak to win 31-7 in a hard-fought game against Zebre Parma in Stellenbosch on Saturday.

The Stormers struggled to find their groove and were guilty of overplaying at times throughout the game. Their scrum was working well which provided their first try through Evan Roos in the 13th minute.

A frustrating middle period of the first half was broken by a Ruhan Nel try in the 36th minute before Zebre’s Alessandro Fusco scored a converted try on the cusp of half-time. It was well deserved for the scrum-half who was his team’s best player on the day.

As expected the hosts tried to start fast and did so through Courtnall Skosan only four minutes after the break. Fans would have to wait over 20 minutes for the next one with Leolin Zas going over after a slick backline move.

Two-time Rugby World Cup winner Damian Willemse went over to round out the scoring as he cleverly stepped his way over the line in the 74th minute.

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