Glasgow too good for Edinburgh

URC REPORT: Glasgow Warriors took a four-point lead in the Scottish/Italian Shield with a 30-17 victory in their 1872 Cup clash with Edinburgh.

Flank Tom Gordon twice put Warriors in front before Glen Young and Boan Venter responded.

The crucial moment proved to be a breakaway try from Josh McKay in the 56th minute which saw the home side go on to dominate and move into third place in the United Rugby Championship, as well as taking the lead in the 1872 Cup.

Both teams were locked on 39 points before the game and were evenly matched until McKay’s try.

Glasgow went for the jugular from the start and might have scored even earlier than their ninth-minute opener.

A stolen line-out and a deliberate knock-on from Edinburgh wing Emiliano Boffelli, who escaped a yellow card, held up Warriors before the combined efforts of Henry Immelman and Matt Currie stopped Cole Forbes going over in the corner.

The breakthrough came from some close-range pressure when Gordon wriggled over.

Glasgow’s failure to deal with Edinburgh’s kick-off ensured they could not build on their lead, which had been extended by Duncan Weir’s conversion. Jack Dempsey let the ball bounce and McKay’s kick was charged down behind the try line, and Young converted the resulting pressure in the 14th minute despite Johnny Matthews’ efforts to hold the ball up.

Warriors got back on top, although they had to be smart to stop Henry Pyrgos scoring on a counter-attack, and it was a mistake from the visitors that led to the third try of the game in the 29th minute.

Jaco van der Walt’s kick was flat and short and straight into the hands of Sebastian Cancelliere. The winger fed Stafford McDowall, who set up Gordon to go over after a dummy.

Edinburgh responded well again and McKay did well to hold up Matt Currie after the centre burst through the lines. Edinburgh cut the gap through Boffelli’s penalty, but Weir restored the hosts’ seven-point lead just before the interval.

Edinburgh re-started strongly and benefited from a second penalty in quick succession when Venter went over. Boffelli levelled the scores.

The game turned on Cancelliere picking up a loose ball inside his own half as Edinburgh attacked. The Argentinian winger drove forward and infield knowing that McKay was overlapping and his no-look pass left three Edinburgh players exposed as the full-back ran up the right wing to cross.

Warriors got some more control of the game, with substitute Ross Thompson’s kicking adding eight further points as well as keeping Edinburgh on the back foot.

Player of the match

There were a number of contenders, with Gordon an obvious candidate for his efforts in his 61 minutes on the park.

However, the individual honour went to scrum-half Jamie Dobie on a big night for the hosts.

Play of the match

Cancelliere’s intervention proved decisive as he showed good reactions to steal a loose ball.

But it was his awareness to run inside and create space for McKay that really did the damage, along with his perfect pass.

The scorers:

For Glasgow Warriors
Tries: Gordon 2, McKay
Cons: Weir 2, Thompson
Pens: Weir, Thompson 2

For Edinburgh
Tries: Young, Venter
Cons: Boffelli 2
Pen: Boffelli

The teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Robbie Fergusson, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Cole Forbes, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Thomas Gordon, 6 Ryan Wilson (captain), 5 Richie Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Murphy Walker
Replacements: 16 Grant Stewart, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Ewan McQuillin, 19 Kiran McDonald, 20 Ally Miller, 21 Jordan Lenac, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Sione Tuipulotu

Edinburgh: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Matt Currie, 12 Chris Dean, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Henry Pyrgos (captain), 8 Mesulame Kunavula, 7 Connor Boyle, 6 Ben Muncaster, 5 Glen Young, 4 Pierce Phillips, 3 Angus Williams, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Harrison Courtney
Replacements: 16 Adam McBurney, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Luan de Bruin, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Charlie Savala, 23 Cammy Hutchison

Referee: Hollie Davidson
Assistant Referees: Keith Allen, Ian Kenny
TMO: Neil Paterson