It was never really entirely about the result, more the performance and to give something to bring a bit of uplift after the Zebre debacle.
No better way, really, than a full-blooded friendly and, in the end, it was quite the workout for Richie Murphy’s side in a game where the lead see-sawed between both before the Reds pulled away in the later stages.
It was six tries to five in favour of the visitors but Ulster finished the game strongly, coming back from trailing 38-24, and it was a more than useful exercise in getting game time back into the legs of James Hume – who scored – along with Jacob Stockdale and Stuart McCloskey.
So, a decent enough game and something to bring some entertainment too, with so many scores and a plethora of attacking rugby on show with the Super Rugby outfit putting together some very impressive attacking plays.
And, yes, the timing could really have been better. Ulster’s previous game had seen them hit a new low when losing to Zebre which was hardly an ideal selling point and neither, of course, was the proximity of the Six Nations with a weekend in Edinburgh often being a particularly popular destination for people from these parts.
Still, it marked Les Kiss’s return to Ravenhill which was never exactly likely after he racked up at the Reds following London Irish’s demise in the Premiership and, well, that didn’t exactly seem to capture the Ulster rugby public’s imagination either.
Something that was notable was the return from various injuries for McCloskey, Stockdale and particularly Hume, who was playing his first game following last April’s ACL problem and its subsequent surgery.
The Reds, fresh from demolishing a hardly well stacked Bristol last week, came with another strong selection, a smattering of Wallabies in their match day 23, while Ulster opted for a 30-man squad, the inference being there would be much rotation, which indeed there was as the second half wore on.
It opened with Stockdale being smashed three times in the first three minutes and then Hume banking an important mark after the Reds had swept downfield.
On seven minutes, and with Ulster not having entered the Reds’ half except via kicks, the visitors put a penalty to the corner and easily mauled over with hooker Matt Faessler scoring, though Harry McLaughlin-Phillips missed from the tee.
Ulster came close to striking back on the quarter of an hour mark but were held up twice over the line, the second time from a tap and go by Tom Stewart.
Still, they kept coming and earned a five-metre scrum from which was concocted Stockdale’s score in the left corner thanks to Aidan Morgan’s long pass, and the out half supplied a well struck conversion to put Ulster in front after 19 minutes.
Five minutes later the visitors were back in front when number eight and Wallaby skipper Harry Wilson surged over from close range with McLauglin-Phillips converting to make it 12-7.
But that changed quickly as two minutes later, and off a scrum, Conor McKee wrapped around McCloskey, with Hume on a dummy run, and raced clear to dot down. Morgan’s conversion put Ulster back in front.
But then with four minutes before the break another clever line bust from the Reds had Wilson charging through to draw the cover and put Tate McDermott away to score at the posts meaning McLaughlin-Phillips was able to add the two and that was the Australians in the lead again at 19-14.
And that’s how things finished up at the halfway point in what had been an entertaining first 40 minutes with plenty to cheer those who had turned out.
McCloskey and Stockdale didn’t return after the break which saw Ulster again held up over the line early doors.
The next time, though, they did make it count with Hume the one getting Ulster’s third try to tie things up at 19 points apiece and marking his return in style, though Morgan was unable to convert from the challenging angle.
Hume departed shortly afterwards and was absent when replacement Michael Lowry sprinted away for a score as the hosts claimed the lead again following a Queensland handling error.
The visitors responded with a sweeping move out of their own half with Heremaia Murray skittling Ulster defenders before supplying his fellow winger Tim Ryan with the scoring pass.
Once more the scores were level, but replacement Tom Lynagh – son of Wallaby legend Michael – kicked a superb conversion and then did so again two minutes later on the hour mark when Jock Campbell’s inside pass allowed Ryan to score a brace to put the visitors 33-24 in front.
Murray crossed on 67 minutes for the Reds’ sixth try which was unconverted.
Ulster did come back, though, when Stewart Moore used his strength to fend off a tacker and reach the line and his effort was converted by fellow sub James Humphreys.
Though Ulster produced a storming finish – and were encamped near the Reds’ try line thanks to a series of penalties – they were unable to plant the ball over the line for another score.
Still, not a bad game and something to build on for next week’s trip to Benetton for the return to URC action.
Ulster: J Flannery, Z Ward, J Hume, S McCloskey, J Stockdale, A Morgan, C McKee; A Warwick, T Stewart, C Barrett, A O’Connor (capt), M Dalton, Matty Rea, L McLoughlin, D McCann
Replacements: J McCormick, E O’Sullivan, B O’Connor, H Sheridan, T Brigg, D Shanahan, J Humphreys, W De Klerk, J Boyd, R Crothers, M Lowry, B Carson, S Moore, N Doak, K Treadwell.
Queensland Reds: J Campbell; T Ryan, F Daugunu, H Paisami, H Murray; H McLaughlin-Phillips, T McDermott (capt); S Fa’agase, M Faessier, M de Lutiis; R Smith, A Blyth; C Vest, F McReight, H Wilson.
Replacements: J Nasser, G Blake, Z Nonggorr, L Salakaia-Loto, J Bryant, L Werchon, T Lynagh, M Gordon.
Referee: A Cole