Edinburgh - 3 Ulster - 41 Edinburgh's Celtic League hopes were dealt a devastating blow last night as a slick Ulster outfit ran in the tries at Meadowbank

A dour first-half struggle saw the visitors forge ahead through an Adam Larkin penalty before Ryan Constable's converted try on the stroke of half-time gave the score a more realistic look.

However, it might have been different but for three squandered penalty shots from home outhalf Ally Warnock.

Instead, the Irish side stepped up several gears after the break and put the issue beyond doubt with a trio of touchdowns in quick succession, all converted by Larkin.

Constable notched his second while Ireland international wingers Tyrone Howe and James Topping were the other Ulstermen to breach a ragged Edinburgh defence.

There was still time for Constable to complete his hat-trick with the best score of the night, converted by Larkin, who rubbed salt in the Gunners' wounds with a late penalty.

Assistant Edinburgh coach Hugh Edwards groaned: "We're desperately disappointed to lose the game but against a side of Ulster's quality we made far too many mistakes in attack and defence."

EDINBURGH: Lee; Sharman, Joiner, Philip, Southwell; Warnock, Burns; Jacobsen, Di Ciacca, Brannigan, Perrett, Kellock, Blackadder, Hogg, Dall. Replacements: Kelly, Smith, Strokosch, Cross, Lawson, Mathieson, Di Rollo.

ULSTER: Cunningham; Topping, Constable, Stewart, Howe; Larkin, Campbell; B Young, Shields, Moore, Mustchin, McCullough, Ward, Best, McWhirter. Replacements: Spee, S. Young, Mallon, Sexton, Frost, Wilson, McCormack.