Glasgow's second half show floors Edinburgh
MATCH REPORT: Glasgow Warriors produced a dominant second-half performance at BT Murrayfield to claim a 32-25 BKT United Rugby Championship victory over Edinburgh and secure the 1872 Cup.
The Warriors – bidding to protect a six-point advantage from the first leg at Scotstoun – were up against it at the national stadium as they trailed their inter-city rivals 20-12 at the interval.
But they scored 20 unanswered points after the break on their way to claiming a bonus-point United Rugby Championship victory while also landing the 1872 Cup on its 150th-anniversary staging by a resounding 13-point aggregate margin (48-35).
As was the case in the first leg a week previously Edinburgh wing Wes Goosen withdrew shortly before kick-off due to a calf issue, and his place was again taken by fullback Harry Paterson with Emiliano Boffelli switching to the wing.
Glasgow notched the first points of the evening in the fifth minute when captain Kyle Steyn received a pass from Sintu Manjezi on the left and showed quick feet to dart over the line. Tom Jordan kicked the conversion.
Edinburgh levelled things up in the 10th minute when Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie pushed his way over between the posts following a sustained spell of pressure. Boffelli made no mistake with the conversion.
The Argentine goal-kicker – who this week finalised a two-year contract extension with Edinburgh – then edged the hosts in front five minutes later with a penalty from close range.
The men from Scotland’s capital stretched their lead on the night and got themselves ahead on aggregate in the 27th minute when Luke Crosbie touched down following a strong lineout drive. Boffelli was again on target with his conversion from wide on the left.
Glasgow responded in the 35th minute when Matt Fagerson forced his way over from a lineout. Jordan failed to add the extras as his kick drifted wide.
Boffelli kicked another penalty right on half-time to give Edinburgh a 20-12 lead on the night and edge them back in front in the battle for the trophy.
But Warriors scored a superb try in the 56th minute when Jordan darted free and raced in behind the posts after excellent work by Sione Vailanu and Sebastian Cancelliere to create the opening. Jordan duly popped his close-range conversion between the posts.
Things got worse for Edinburgh in the 67th minute when Marshall Sykes was shown a yellow card for foul play in front of the posts and Glasgow’s George Horne capitalised by kicking a close-range penalty to put the visitors ahead on the evening and firmly in control of the 1872 Cup.
A minute later Horne raced clear to touch down behind the posts after Steyn and Jordan combined to set him free. The try-scorer then added the extras.
Horne put further daylight between the teams with a 74th-minute penalty before Paddy Harrison scored a consolation try for the hosts – which was enough to gain them a losing bonus point – right at the death.
Player of the Match
Glasgow and Scotland centre Sione Tuipulotu carried the ball well throughout the evening and was instrumental in his team seizing the upper hand after the break. Showed his creativity with a lovely kick to Kyle Steyn in the lead-up to George Horne’s try.
Play of the match
With Glasgow trailing 20-12 on the evening and by two points in the battle for the 1872 Cup, they turned the tide in their favour with a superb try in the 56th minute. Sione Vailanu and Sebastian Cancelliere combined to impressive effect on the right to create an opening for Tom Jordan, who was able to race clear and dart behind the posts.
The scorers:
For Edinburgh:
Tries: Ritchie, Crosbie, Harrison
Cons: Boffelli 2
Pens: Boffelli 2
For Glasgow Warriors:
Tries: Steyn, Fagerson, Jordan, Horne
Cons: Jordan 2, Horne
Pens: Horne 2
Teams:
Edinburgh: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Wes Goosen, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Blair Kinghorn, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Villiame Mata, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Jamie Ritchie (co-captain), 5 Grant Gilchrist (co-captain), 4 Sam Skinner, 3 Willem Nel, 2 Tom Cruse, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Paddy Harrison, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Angus Williams, 19 Marshall Sykes, 20 Connor Boyle, 21 Charlie Shiel, 22 Charlie Savala, 23 Cammy Hutchinson.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Sione Tuipulotu, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Kyle Steyn (captain), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 Ali Price, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Sione Vailanu, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Jean-Pierre du Preez, 20 Lewis Bean, 21 Cameron Neild, 22 George Horne, 23 Domingo Miotti.
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Ian Kenny (Scotland)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
