Edinburgh powered into the United Rugby Championship quarter-finals with a dominant 43–26 bonus-point win over Ulster at Hive Stadium, scoring seven tries in an inspired attacking display.
Darcy Graham grabbed a sensational hat-trick on what could be his final appearance at home this season, while Magnus Bradbury crossed twice as the hosts delivered under pressure to secure their place in the last eight.
Cardiff’s earlier defeat to the Stormers meant a four-try win would be enough for Sean Everitt’s side, and they duly obliged — hitting the required mark early in the second half before adding further gloss in a one-sided finale.
Graham opened the scoring inside the first ten minutes, cutting a sharp angle after Wes Goosen put him into space. Bradbury soon added a second from a driving line-out, extending the lead to 12–0 before Ulster mounted a brief response.
The visitors were awarded a penalty try when Graham was penalised for a deliberate knock-on while trying to intercept a pass bound for Zac Ward. The winger was yellow-carded, and Ulster took advantage of his absence, levelling the score through Werner Kok after a defensive lapse from Goosen.
But Edinburgh quickly steadied. Ewan Ashman powered over from close range to make it 19–12 at half-time, and the home side didn’t look back.
Bradbury’s second try — and Edinburgh’s fourth — arrived just minutes into the second period following relentless pressure near the Ulster line. Pierre Schoeman bulldozed over for the fifth before Graham added two more to seal a memorable hat-trick.
Jude Postlethwaite did register a brilliant solo effort for Ulster, racing in from inside his own 22, but the result was never truly in doubt after the break.
The win ensures that club stalwart Jamie Ritchie, who is set to leave for France this summer, has at least one more outing in an Edinburgh shirt, with the team now guaranteed a play-off spot.
Teams
Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, Currie, Lang, Paterson, Thompson, Price; Shoeman, Ashman, Rae, Sykes, Skinner, Munaster, Watson, Bradbury.
Replacements: Harrison, Venter, Sebastian, Young, Ritchie, Shiel, Healy, Bennett.
Ulster: Lowry; Kok, Postlethwaite, McCloskey, Stockdale; Murphy, Doak; Warwick, Herring, O’Toole; Treadwell, Henderson (capt); Izuchukwu, Timoney, McCann.
Replacements: Stewart, Reid, Wilson, Sheridan, McNabney, Shanahan, Morgan, Moore.
Referee: Craig Evans
