Three in a row for Ulster

Ulster went top of the Magners League on Friday after beating Edinburgh 29-21 at Ravenhill - their third-successive win of the campaign.

Tries from Andrew Trimble and Ian Whitten plus a penalty from fly-half Niall O'Connor put the home side 13-6 up at half time, with Chris Paterson scoring Edinburgh's points.

O'Connor extended the lead with a penalty, but the Gunners were then back in the game when Dutch wing Tim Visser touched down.

The hosts went clear when O'Connor kicked another penalty and a drop goal before Darren Cave scored. Ben Cairns then replied late on for Edinburgh.

Ulster were ahead early when O'Connor's crossfield kick bounced over Mark Robertson's head to fall conveniently for Trimble on the left wing.

He then shrugged off a feeble tackle from Robertson and raced clear for the line for a try O'Connor failed to convert.

Edinburgh had points on the board four minutes, however, when Paterson kicked a penalty after Ulster strayed offside at a ruck under their posts.

O'Connor then kicked a long-range penalty wide before finding the target after Netani Talei had failed to release.

Ulster were by now on the front foot and soon won another penalty, which O'Connor this time kicked to the corner.

From the resulting line-out, the home side surged up the middle with Paul Marshall making ground near Edinburgh's posts.

Stephen Ferris carried twice before O'Connor's pass put centre Whitten over in the right corner, but O'Connor once more failed to convert.

Ulster were 13-3 ahead but Edinburgh responded from the restart by winning a line-out turnover before pressing for Ulster's line.

The net result was another three points courtesy of Paterson, although he was off-target with a third attempt at the end of the half.

Ulster put 10 points between the sides two minutes after the restart when O'Connor kicked his second penalty.

Loose

However, Trimble then threw a loose pass and after Edinburgh had worked the ball to Visser, he flew down the left and beat three tackles to score.

Paterson kicked the extras to reduce the deficit to just three points but Edinburgh's good work was then undone when flanker Scott Newlands was sinbinned for killing the ball.

Connor put Ulster 19-13 in front but any hopes they had of making the extra man pay were immediately dashed as Chris Henry was himself yellow-carded for coming in from the side.

Phil Godman kicked the resulting penalty as Edinburgh once more narrowed Ulster's lead to three points.

They responded soon enough, with O'Connor kicking a drop goal and the lead was then stretched further when centre Cave broke through and touched down.

O'Connor converted for 29-16 and although Cairns went route one through Jamie Smith's tackle for an unconverted score, the result was enough to consign Edinburgh to a third loss in as many games.