Anyway, Ulster got the job done, scoring five tries, though their 19-0 half-time lead saw them concede the same number of points in what remained.
Cormac Izuchukwu, Jude Postlethwaite, Zac Ward, James McCormick and Jonny Scott on debut all crossed the line for Richie Murphy’s side in a performance that was hardly dazzling but still produced the intended outcome.
At times, particularly in the first half, Ulster looked fairly cohesive and moved the ball well – maybe Mark Sexton’s touch on show – but there were some familiar failings as they coughed up some soft scores. Still, the nature of the game wasn’t exactly about cohesion, just getting the first one done.
It was hard to entirely shake off the new term feel to all this and, it being a friendly, expectation of a quality performance was hardly uppermost in many minds when just getting the hit-out – this was Ulster’s only senior friendly after all, with the A team taking on Cambridge tomorrow – was the likely priority for Richie Murphy et al.
Ulster’s Cormac Izuchukwu is tackled by Freddy Douglas of Edinburgh
Not that the performance wasn’t relevant, just that pre-season games being what they are, the disjointed nature of more substitutions than normal and the requirement to just get some live action against a different side, tend to always have an impact on what is put out there.
As for Edinburgh’s selection, 17 players came in at 23 or under, with nine of the side being current Academy players and five first-year professionals.
Ulster, well, on paper were a lot stronger – Sean Reffell getting his first game time for nearly a year – and looking more likely to find their patterns and rhythm at a much earlier stage. That was the theory anyway.
Interesting, too, that Edinburgh are second up in the United Rugby Championship after Ulster host the Dragons on September 26, though this fixture will be at the Hive Stadium on the first Friday in October, but that will be a very different type of encounter.
After three minutes a James Hume pass was intercepted by Lewis Wells, though fortunately for Ulster – who had started brightly enough with the ball in hand – this came on a penalty advantage and shortly afterwards a scrum near the Edinburgh line saw Dave McCann carry hard and, from the recycle, Izuchukwu opened the province’s account for the season.
Jack Murphy
Jack Murphy converted and Ulster had seven in the bank early doors, ideal for this type of game.
In fairness, Werner Kok definitely looked up for it, though what wasn’t such a good look was the loss of Matty Dalton 11 minutes in after he had shipped a heavy hit in the opening exchanges, Harry Sheridan replacing him.
It didn’t take long for try number two, Edinburgh coughing up a cheap enough five metre scrum and McCann launching himself before supplying Postlethwaite, who barrelled over from close range, though this time Murphy was wide from the tee.
The game then was halted while prop Rhys Litterick was carted off with a serious looking injury and this did interrupt the flow to the contest, with no real scoring chances emerging until just before the half hour when Edinburgh tapped a penalty and knocked on near the line.
The game dribbled on for a bit before Ulster gained some red zone access and strong carrying – Izuchukwu prominent here – slick passing saw Postlethwaite put Ward in space, with the winger dummying and stepping in to dot down, Murphy converting to take it to 19-0 on 35 minutes.
Zac Ward crosses to score for Ulster
Not surprisingly, there were no further scores in the opening half with Ulster having played most of the rugby and racked up all the points on show, the visitors having made little headway in terms of putting their hosts under much in the way of sustained pressure.
The usual raft of substitutions was duly made at the break, Ulster introducing Scott Wilson, Marcus Rea, McCormick and Sam Crean to the action.
It took seven minutes before try number four was scored, this time off a driving maul when sub McCormick rumbled over, though Nathan Doak hit the upright with the conversion, his final act of the game.
Edinburgh finally got something on the board when Conor McAlpine dashed down the wing for a solo effort which was converted.
Enter Ethan Graham, Nick Timoney, Ben Carson and Conor McKee, but the Scots scored again when off a lineout maul replacement winger Malelili Satala sprinted over for an unconverted effort.
Werner Kok
Then, not long after debutant Scott had come on and won a crucial jackal penalty, Ulster went down the field and from a penalty put to the corner.
It led to the inevitable lineout and maul and, though McCormick was held, they recycled and Scott ran in under the sticks, Jake Flannery converting to bring some much-needed relief for the hosts.
With the game entering its final minutes, Graham was yellow carded for taking out Satala in the air near the Ulster line and a few minutes later, Edinburgh managed a seven-pointer with Mikey Jones nailing the try at the posts.
So, first one down. Now for the serious stuff.
Ulster: J Flannery; W Kok; J Hume, J Postlehwaite; Z Ward; J Murphy, N Doak; C Reid, J Andrew, T O’Toole; I Henderson, M Dalton; C Izuchukwu, S Reffell, D McCann.
Replacements: J McCormick, S Crean, S Wilson, H Sheridan, N Timoney, C McKee, J Scott, B Carson, Marcus Rea, E Graham, L Kenny, W De Klerk.
Edinburgh: J Brown; L Wells, M Davidson, F Thomson, R McCann; R Thompson, H Patterson; J Whitcombe, J Blyth-Lafferty, R Litterick; C Lindsay, G Young; O Duncan, F Douglas, T Currie.
Replacements: M Jones, H Morris, A Williams, E McVie, S Skinner, L McConnell, H Watson, M Bradbury, C McAlpine, C Scott, R McKnight, C McCaig, M Satala.
Referee: A Cole (IRFU)