REPORT: Edinburgh sent homeward tae think again as they lose 1872 opener

Glasgow Warriors have extended their winning streak to four games as they beat Edinburgh 16-10 in front of a sold out Scotstoun stadium.

The hosts have leapfrogged their rivals in the BKT United Rugby Championship and hold the advantage going into the second leg of the 1872 Cup at BT Murrayfield next week.

Glasgow led 10-0 at halftime courtesy of Jack Dempsey’s try and George Horne’s penalty. Edinburgh responded in the second half via Connor Boyle with Emiliano Boffelli converting. Tom Jordan slotted two more penalties for Warriors before Jaco van der Walt added three more points for Edinburgh.

The opening phases saw penalties a piece. Following a move to the wing in replace of Wes Goosen before kick off, Edinburgh’s high flying Argentine Boffelli missed the first attempt at posts after four minutes.

Glasgow’s response drove them right down to Edinburgh’s try line but were victim to their own undoing as the visitors won the penalty and cleared their lines.

Boffelli failed to redeem himself on his next attempt at goal. His second penalty bounced off the left post, dropping another three points that would prove costly as the game unfolded.

Edinburgh’s defence was subjected to a battering through the opening half hour. Three penalties conceded in quick succession gave Glasgow several opportunities to break the deadlock.

The stalemate was shattered moments later as number eight, Jack Dempsey split the defence after yet another line-out set piece. The recently capped Scotland international scored to reward Glasgow’s patience after shipping the ball wide from the corner.

After problem’s two weeks prior against Saracens, Edinburgh’s line-out continued to struggle with consistency in the first half and was left without a spark in the dreich conditions.

Edinburgh’s bleak start dragged on as Chris Dean was replaced with Cammy Scott. The centre was on the receiving end of a punishing hand off from Sione Tuipulotu.

As the whistle blew for halftime Horne added three points on the back of another Edinburgh penalty deep in their own 22.

Glasgow led 10-0 with 40 minutes to go.

As the second half commenced, it was Edinburgh who once again had the first opportunity to put points on the board. A break from James Lang and a beautifully timed pass to Duhan van der Merwe was swiftly halted by Josh McKay. The visitors did their best to power through a scrambling defence but the ball was coughed up and Glasgow cleared their lines.

The proverbial ball wasn’t bouncing Edinburgh’s way as Harry Paterson, a late addition to the starting 15,  fumbled and the visitors were back to square one.

Following two replacements in the scrum, Edinburgh worked their way into Glasgow’s half. Their phases finally produced their best chance of the game with an attacking line-out in Glasgow’s 22.

Marshall Sykes and Boan Venter brought an immediate impact to the line-out. The driving maul crabbed its way across the pitch before Boyle bulldozed over to finally get the visitors on the scoreboard. Third time was the charm as Boffelli’s conversion was awarded.

With 15 minutes to go Edinburgh’s inconsistent pack collapsed and Glasgow snapped three more points from them through the boot of Tom Jordan. The Scotstoun crowd erupted, hungry for more than just the safe option, but as with the previous 65 minutes, they would have to savour the points that came few and far between.

The host added three more from Jordan’s boot as Edinburgh’s possessions after the turnover was shortlived.

Edinburgh would only score three more points via substitute, van der Walt in the dying stages of the match.

Glasgow Warriors now hold a six point advantage as the two sides will meet again following Christmas for the second leg of World Rugby’s oldest intercity rivalry.