Edinburgh retain 1872 Cup

PRO14 REPORT: Stuart McInally scored the crucial try as Edinburgh clinched the 1872 Cup with a hard-fought 16-8 win over Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.

Having failed to win a single game on the road in the Pro14 so far this season, Edinburgh put an end to that run at the perfect moment as they completed the double over their close rivals.

A week on from a 23-7 success at Murrayfield, Edinburgh were again too strong, using a dominant scrum to suffocate the life out of their opponents.

FT | Edinburgh retain the #1872Cup after an excellent second-half showing secures the win at Scotstoun! [8-16]#GLAvEDI | #AlwaysEdinburgh 🔷🔶 pic.twitter.com/MrJzEmDBny

— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) December 29, 2018

And when Glasgow lost prop Oli Kebble to the sin-bin, Edinburgh pounced to win a scrum against the head and send McInally over.

Edinburgh had made the quicker start, Jaco van der Walt slotting an early penalty from a scrum infringement.

Glasgow responded, coming close on a couple of occasions before Adam Hastings got them on the board with a penalty from close range.

It was Edinburgh who led at the break though, Van der Walt again on target after Glasgow had strayed offside in their own 22.

After a first half dominated by indiscipline, 14 penalties in all, Glasgow’s front row finally paid the price early in the second.

With WP Nel and the impressive Pierre Schoeman turning the screw, Kebble paid the price and was sent to the bin.

From a penalty within less than a minute Bill Mata picked up from the back of the scrum against the head, and was stopped just short of the line. The ball was recycled quickly and Henry Pyrgos’ wide pass found McInally, who twisted his way over. Van der Walt’s conversion made it 13-3 to the visitors.

Glasgow continued to struggle to impose themselves, with Edinburgh able to extend their lead on the hour with a third penalty of the afternoon from Van der Walt.

The Warriors kept coming and did finally break through when replacement George Horne sold a dummy before touching down from close range.

Hastings had a crucial conversion with two minutes remaining but could not split the uprights, ensuring that Edinburgh could not be caught.

And despite one final dart down the left from DTH van der Merwe, Glasgow could not get over again, failing to pick up a point from either of the two clashes with their rivals.

The scorers:

For Glasgow:
Try: Horne
Pen: Hastings

For Edinburgh:
Try: McInally
Con: Van der Walt
Pens: Van der Walt 3

Yellow card: Oli Kebble (Glasgow, 46)

Teams:

Glasgow: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Alex Dunbar, 12 Pete Horne, 11 Niko Matawalu, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Callum Gibbins (co-captain), 6 Ryan Wilson (co-captain), 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Grant Stewart, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Siua Halanukonuka, 19 Rob Harley, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 George Horne, 22 Sam Johnson, 23 DTH van der Merwe.

Edinburgh: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 James Johnstone, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Ben Toolis, 3 WP Nel, 2 Stuart McInally (captain), 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 David Cherry, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Callum Hunter-Hill, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Nathan Fowles, 22 Simon Hickey, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Stuart Gaffikin (Ireland), David Sutherland (Scotland)
TMO: Neil Paterson (Scotland)

@PRO14Official