Chris Paterson produced a heroic kicking performance in freezing conditions to enable Edinburgh to chalk up another win over former Heineken Cup winning opposition – with Bath crashing to a 9-6 win at Murrayfield.

A crowd of 5, 238 braved the Scottish winter and witnessed a first half snowstorm that threatened to bring the Heineken Cup Pool Four match to a halt before the interval.

Nevertheless, Edinburgh battled on through the wind and snow to secure a vital win over Bath, who after Toulouse, Wasps and Leicester became the latest former European champion to fall victim to the Black and Red Army.

The game started with a clear sky over Murrayfield and Edinburgh made the most of the conditions to throw the ball around and keep Bath firmly on the back-foot.

But despite repeatedly threatening to cross the whitewash, Edinburgh frustratingly were unable to turn their possession into tries.

Captaining the team in the absence of the injured Mike Blair, Paterson led by example and his accuray from the kicking tee proved to be the difference between the two sides.

The 31-year-old full-back, registering his 50th European appearance for Edinburgh, also kicked accurately from hand to give the home side some territorial advantage.

Just two minutes had lapsed when Paterson first scored a penalty, but Edinburgh were guilty once again of some errors and Bath pulled level through a penalty from Nicky Little.

Little who was not as effective with the tee as Paterson struck again nine minutes later to give Bath the lead while Edinburgh were left kicking themselves for not taking their chances, especially after the visitors stole a line-out by their own line.

Paterson came to the rescue again moments later to level the score and was the stand-out performer in a match affected by the blizzard-like conditions.

Ben Cairns was an early withdrawal with a neck injury with Mark Robertson replacing him in the back division and John Houston moving back into midfield.

Just after the hour-mark, Paterson struck the winning penalty to hand Edinburgh a lifeline in northern hemisphere rugby’s premier competition.

Fraser McKenzie made his European debut for Edinburgh replacing Craig Hamilton in the second half while newcomer Lewis Niven, named on the bench in place of the injured Andrew Kelly (calf), did not get on.

Edinburgh

Penalties
Paterson (3)

Edinburgh: Paterson, Houston, Cairns, De Luca, Visser, Godman, Laidlaw, Traynor, Ford, Cross, Turnbull, Hamilton, MacDonald, Rennie, Newlands.
Replacements: Niven, Jacobsen (for Traynor), Young, McKenzie (for Hamilton), Callam (for Rennie), Samson, Robertson (for Cairns), Thompson (for De Luca)
Bath: Abendanon, Stephenson, Carraro, Hape, Cheeseman, Little, Claassens (c), Flatman, Dixon, Wilson, Hooper, Short, Beattie, Salvi, Watson.
Replacements: Mears, Catt, Bell, Grewcock, Skirving, Bemand, Davis, Cuthbert