Ulster secured a home QF in the URC as tries from Jacob Stockdale, John Cooney and Nick Timoney saw them recover to defeat Edinburgh 28-14

Ulster’s victory will be even more relished for seeing off any last gasp psychological pressure applied to them with Stormers beating Benneton to temporarily reclaim second place ahead of kick off.

Yet, the hosts made a jittery start as Edinburgh’s intensity threatened to overwhelm them in the early exchanges. 

A seventh minute warning of Edinburgh’s prowess when Duhan van der Merwe almost touched down Blair Kinghorn’s clever kick through went unheeded as the Scottish side opened the scoring in the very next phase.

Jeff Toomaga-Allen was flaky under a high ball and Mark Bennett, promoted from the bench at the last minute, made great ground out wide.  The centre found support in the form of winger Darcy Graham who sprinted in to finish a lovely attacking move, Kinghorn adding the extras.

Amidst a half disrupted by various HIA substitutions, Ulster remained unsure in their play, often looking like deer caught in headlights when receiving the ball as the Scots dominated the breakdown.

Yet, they hauled themselves back into the match with a scintillating score from Jacob Stockdale.  A lineout on halfway was executed well, Billy Burns and Craig Gilroy (on his last Ulster appearance) drew the defenders to set Stockdale away on the right.  He swapped passes with Robert Balocoune to dive over, Cooney wide with the conversion.

The score buoyed the home players who edged ahead with a Cooney penalty two minutes before the break.  It got even better when referee Andrea Piradi awarded a scrum penalty.  To the delight of the crowd, Cooney slotted it to send Ulster in four points up.

Immediately into the second half, the Kingspan had more to cheer with Cooney intercepting a loose pass from Kinghorn to sprint in untouched from his own half.  The scrum half made it a seven-pointer, giving Ulster an 18-7 lead.

With the hosts producing a more controlled performance, Edinburgh were pedalled backwards and after incessant indiscipline, lock Glen Young saw yellow. 

His dismissal was swiftly punished with Nick Timoney barrelling over under the sticks, Cooney adding an easy two as Ulster moved clear on the scoreboard.

Edinburgh, to their credit, continued to play and replacement hooker Stuart McInally, on his swansong burst through from deep.  A terrific run was halted by an equally brilliant recovery tackle by Kieran Treadwell as the pass to van der Merwe evaded his grasp.

Moments later, Charlie Savada thought he had Edinburgh’s second try but it was ruled out by Piradi who deemed Jamie Richie to have knocked it forward.  Ulster let off the hook as moments of inspiration by McInally and Richie went unrewarded.

WP Nell eventually barged over to get the try Edinburgh deserved but another calm Cooney penalty made it 28-14.

In a free-flowing match, it was fitting that an overthrown pass by Graham was the last act.  A thriller in Belfast and Ulster will be relieved to be back there for a URC QF in a fortnight’s time.