Edinburghrugby.org has arrived in Bath ahead of this afternoon's friendly against the Premiership outfit at the Recreation Ground. Kick-off is at 3.30pm, and already the city streets are teeming with rugby-starved fans gearing up for the new campaign.
TEAM: Chris Paterson; Lee Jones, Ben Cairns, Alex Grove, Tim Visser; David Blair, Greig Laidlaw; Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford, Jack Gilding, Steven Turnbull, Craig Hamilton, Scott Newlands, Netani Talei, Roddy Grant (captain)
1 min - Searing Lee Jones break through the heart of the Bath defence. Positive start.
6min - Bath starting to spread the ball ominously, but Edinburgh scramble defence holding up well
7min - TRY BATH. Spoke too soon. Nick Abendanon evades the despairing grasp of Roddy Grant to touch down. Olly Barkley converts. BATH 7 EDINBURGH 0
9min - Former Edinburgh stalwart Simon Taylor penalised for holding on. Penalty Edinburgh, kicked to touch by David Blair. Forwards make ground, but Bath quick to seize on loose ball and the chance is gone.
12 min - Edinburgh probe the right-hand side of the Bath defence, Tim Visser combining well with Chris Paterson. Ball knocked-on under pressure. Scrum Bath.
18 min - TRY BATH. Slick work from the hosts results in a second score. Nearside lineout ball worked across the field via slick handling. Fly-half Sam Vesty oiling the wheels. Lock Stuart Hooper goes over, and Barkley duly converts from a mildly challenging angle. BATH 14 EDINBURGH 0
21 min - Fraser McKenzie replaces Steven Turnbull in the second row.
28 min - Closest thing yet for Edinburgh. Lovely flat pass from Alex Grove puts Tim Visser away down the left. The wing's kick ahead is beautifully controlled, his glide to collect the ball impressive, but he is adjudged to have knocked-on while attempting to touch down. So near.
39min - Edinburgh have dominated since that second Bath score, getting good go forward through Netani Talei especially. They have been guilty, however, of turning the ball over in contact, a facet of the game they'll be looking to tighten up in the second half.
40min - TRY BATH. The ultimate sucker punch. Right on the stroke of half-time, Bath exploit an overlap on the right. Abendanon cuts back in, slicing apart the Edinburgh defence and dotting down under the posts. Barkley adds the extras.
HALF-TIME. BATH 21 EDINBURGH 0
Head coach Rob Moffat has made a number of changes for the second half. Note that Steven Turnbull has returned to the second row, with Craig Hamilton leaving the field.
SECOND HALF TEAM: Tom Brown; Tim Visser, Ben Cairns, John Houston, Andrew Turnbull; Alex Blair, Mike Blair; Kyle Traynor, Lindsey Gibson , Geoff Cross, Fraser McKenzie, Steven Turnbull, Scott Newlands, Struan Dewar, Roddy Grant (captain).
43 min - TRY EDINBURGH. The platinum-clad away side show greater patience in the Bath 22 after a strong scrum provides the attacking platform. Mike Blair's short pass sends Visser charging to the posts. Alex Blair converts. BATH 21 EDINBURGH 7
45 min - TRY EDINBURGH. The fightback is well and truly on. Alex Blair slides through a delightful speculative kick, and as the Bath defence hesitate, Visser appears on the scene to stroll in for his second try. Alex Blair adds the extras. BATH 21 EDINBURGH 14. Game on!
53 min - TRY BATH. The hosts hit back. The hugely impressive Sam Vesty bursts to life again, creating space for Matt Carraro to fly into. The wing feeds the touchline-hugging Luke Watson, who just about sees off Visser to complete a lightning-quick score. Barkley lands a difficult conversion from the left side of the pitch. BATH 28 EDINBURGH 14
57 min - TRY EDINBURGH. It's still nip and tuck at the Rec. A string of uncharacteristic errors in the Bath defence is topped off by Carraro offloading straight into the hands of the ever-alert Tom Brown. There's nobody else at home for Bath, and the 20-year-old touches down. Alex Blair converts. BATH 28 EDINBURGH 21
61 min - TRY BATH. Edinburgh survive a period of intense forward-based pressure on their line until Michael Claassens and Luke Watson combine cleverly and swiftly to put in Guy Mercer for the score. Barkley converts. BATH 35 EDINBURGH 21
67 min - TRY BATH. The home side vary their tactics, replacement Matt Banahan being sent through on the crash ball. The giant back has too much momentum for Alex Blair to be able to prevent him crossing the whitewash. Barkley converts. BATH 42 EDINBURGH 21
72 min - TRY BATH. Edinburgh get into difficulty on their own scrum ball. Mike Blair attempts to link with Struan Dewar, but the ball ricochets unkindly off the back-row forward, allowing Luke Watson clear sight of the line. Barkley converts. BATH 49 EDINBURGH 21
FULL-TIME: BATH 49 EDINBURGH 21. The scoreline is probably a little harsh on an Edinburgh side who made their contribution to an entertaining game. Tom Brown, Lee Jones and Tim Visser all emerge with credit, and the side as a whole deserve praise for fighting back early in the second half.
