Replacement stand-off Duncan Weir was the hero as Edinburgh secured a massive victory over Conference B rivals Ulster with another impressive victory at Kingspan Stadium.

Jason Harries scored a late first-half try and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne’s conversion meant that the sides were level 7-7 at half-time.

John Cooney scored all of the points for Ulster, and his try arrived early but his penalties weren’t enough as Lewis Carmichael’s try and Weir’s 82nd minute drop-goal stole the win.

Edinburgh came into this game off the back of a shock bonus-point win over Leinster, but they didn’t start well, and conceded in the ninth minute.

Ulster were in control in the opening stages and Tommy Bowe almost had his chance down the left wing, but kicked straight into touch.

Ulster’s top try scorer for the year, Craig Gilroy, left the field injured in the seventh minute but soon they were in front.

It was a well-worked move in midfield where Louis Ludik combined with Nick Timoney, before Ludik off-loaded to the on-rushing Cooney for the try.

Cooney tapped over the extras and Ulster held a 7-0 lead with the home faithful in full voice.

Edinburgh could have retreated into their shell but they have been in fine form of late and almost scored two tries around the half-hour mark.

On both occasions Viliame Mata was denied, firstly for having a foot in touch and then when he knocked the ball on over the line.

Edinburgh had sent out a warning but the Ulster defence were caught out six minutes before the break and Mata was key again.

He ran a great line to draw the defence after Hidalgo-Clyne broke from the ten-metre line. But the Scottish scrum-half choose to kick down the opposite flank and Harries pounced to score.

Hidalgo-Clyne added the extras and Ulster survived a late drive to leave the game poised at 7-7 at half-time.

Despite a re-shuffled half-back pairing, Ulster began the second-half brilliantly and two Cooney penalties pushed them into a 13-7 lead against the run of play.

Ulster lost their third player to injury for the second week running when Dave Busby left the field with an HIA.

And Edinburgh finally crossed for their second try with 17 minutes remaining when Carmichael scored an inspirational try.

Hidalgo-Clyne scored the conversion and Edinburgh led by 14-13, but just three minutes later Cooney had Ulster back in front before Weir stole it.

Scorers: Ulster: Try: Cooney (8). Con: Cooney (1). Pen: Cooney (45, 55, 67)

Edinburgh: Try: Harries (33), Carmichael (64). Con: Hidalgo-Clyne (2). Drop: Weir.

Scoring sequence (Ulster first): 5-0, 7-0, 7-5, 7-7 (half time), 10-7, 13-7, 13-12, 13-14, 16-14, 16-17

Ulster: L Ludik; C Gilroy (D Busby 7) (D Cave 45 HIA), L Marshall, S McCloskey, T Bowe; J McPhillips (J Stewart 36), J Cooney; A Warwick (K McCall 52) (A Warwick 75), R Herring (J Andrew 52), W Herbst (R Ah You 52); A O’Connor, K Treadwell (M Dalton 67); M Rea, N Timoney, J Deysel (C Henry 55).

Edinburgh: D Fife; J Harries, M Bennett, C Dean, D van der Merwe; J van der Walt (D Weir 72) , S Hidalgo-Clyne (N Fowles 65); J Lay (R Sutherland 54), N Cochrane (C Fenton 65), M McCallum (E Millar Mills 54); F McKenzie, L Carmichael; B Mata, J Hardie (L Crosbie 54), C du Preez (M Bradbury 59).

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)