Tim Visser’s first-half double secured Edinburgh the 1872 Cup for the first time in six years with an impressive 20-8 victory at BT Murrayfield. Visser’s opportunistic strikes before the interval had opened up a 17-point lead for Alan Solomons’ side, more than enough to overturn the aggregate deficit after their 16-6 defeat at Scotstoun last time out. But Nikola Matawalu’s second-half score closed the gap to 26-24 overall and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, who in the first half was flawless from the kicking tee, failed to stretch the lead as the hosts had to cling on in the end. Defeat for Glasgow, only their third in the league all season, was a bitter pill to swallow but Edinburgh, the first winners of the trophy 142 years ago, have now won six in a row at BT Murrayfield and secure the historic cup for the first time since 2009. Gregor Towsnend continued his rotation policy as the Warriors side showed ten changes from the one that had edged out victory at Scotstoun and as a result they appeared uneasy in the opening exchanges. A chip over the top by the hosts’ fly-half Greig Tonks was not covered by Tommy Seymour and for a moment Dougie Fife appeared to be clean through before the Warriors defence scrambled back to scrag him just short of the line. After that early warning shot the game began to open up and it was the visitors who had the first chance to open the scoring, Finn Russell taking full advantage with a penalty after the scrum had forced an Edinburgh infringement. The hosts mustered a fine response and nearly had the first try when a succession of forward drives brought them up to Glasgow’s try line before Fife coughed up possession to end the pressure. But the hosts established parity as the first quarter came to an end with Hidalgo-Clyne slotting a fine penalty into the breeze to make it 3-3. The battle at scrum time was topsy-turvy with referee Nigel Owens quick to punish both front-rows and Hidalgo-Clyne was spot on with a close-range penalty to put the hosts 6-3 ahead. Now in front for the first time, Alan Solomons’ side were growing in confidence and it was even better news just before the half-hour mark as Visser came off his left flank to cut a lovely line through the centre of the Warriors defence for the game’s first try. Hidalgo-Clyne continued his unerring start from the tee by adding the extras and with a 13-3 lead the 1872 cup could go either way with the aggregate score at 19-19. Visser was clearly in the mood however and moments later he flew out of the line to intercept Peter Horne’s errant pass and race clear for his second try in quick succession, Hidaglo-Clyne again spot on with the conversion. At 20-3 in front the Cup was in Edinburgh’s hands and that was how the scores stayed up until the half-time interval. With the historic Cup seemingly slipping from their grasp, the Warriors needed a response after the break and it was Matawalu who provided it. The Fijian scrum-half caught the Edinburgh defence cold with a break and chip down the left touchline that he dived on for the Warriors’ first try of the game. Russell missed the touchline conversion however and Edinburgh were still in the lead, 20-8 on the night and 26-24 overall. Townsend’s side had come alive however and Visser had to be alert to gather another clever kick from Matawalu with Seymour threatening. Just before the hour mark Hidalgo-Clyne was wayward with a long-range penalty as Edinburgh looked to create some breathing room but his miskick never threatened the uprights. And the scrum-half could not correct his radar with the game entering the closing stages as he pushed another penalty wide to keep the Edinburgh faithful on the edge of their seats. But the hosts held on for a deserved victory in the end as the BT Murrayfield crowd went home with the local bragging rights for the first time in six years. Follow us on Facebook, join the conversation on Twitter, sign up to our YouTube channel for extensive match highlights and sign up for our newsletter for regular updates on the GUINNESS PRO12
