Edinburgh recorded a vital 24-20 win over Scarlets in front of a 2, 762 crowd at Murrayfield with Roddy Grant and Tim Visser contributing the tries and Phil Godman racking up 14 points with his boot.

At times, Edinburgh delivered an exhilarating brand of rugby with plenty of off-loads and excursions into Scarlets territory.

Similarly the home side were guilty of a few handling errors and wrong decisions – allowing Scarlets to run in two tries through Phil John and Andy Fenby.

Nevertheless Edinburgh displayed sound game management to stave off a late fight-back from the visitors and to preserve their place in the play-off spots with just four matches of the regular Magners League season remaining.

Andy Fenby gave Edinburgh a late scare with a try scored on 68 minutes with replacement Dan Newton adding the conversion; slicing Edinburgh's lead to just four points with 10 minutes remaining. It set up a nerve-shredding finale, but Edinburgh kept their nerve and clung on for a valuable win to stay in the hunt for a play-off place.

Earlier on in the half and Edinburgh attacked with clinical accuracy. Mike Blair’s kick through was superbly chased by Visser and the big Dutchman scored a try in the corner – less than a minute after the half-time interval. 

Visser's try supplemented a thrilling solo score from Grant in the first half, but Scarlets hit back straight away with a penalty from Rhys Priestland.

Phil Godman kept the scoreboard ticking over in favour of the hosts moments later with a well-taken penalty in a high-scoring start to the second half. The skilful playmaker has added a drop-goal on the 60-minute mark to keep Edinburgh in command.

In the first half, Grant scored an exhilarating solo try to hand Edinburgh a sizeable lead against Scarlets with Godman’s boot (two penalties, one conversion) doing the rest of the damage. But Scarlets responded immediately through a simple try from prop Phil John.

On the 27 minute mark, the flame haired back row forward burst through the Scarlets’ defence and Grant backed himself to outrun the last defender to score underneath the posts. Scarlets, without Sean Lamont, started with real intent and were camped out in Edinburgh’s 22 for the opening four minutes and Rhys Priestland has handed the away side a three point lead.

The team from west Wales dominated the early exchanges and Edinburgh, looking for openings, got little change against their onrushing defence.

But gradually the home side built up a head of steam and were awarded a penalty directly in front of the posts when Scarlets were penalised for offside.

Godman took care of business with the tee and Edinburgh were back on level terms – an important kick from the playmaker in his first start for the Black and Red Army since late January. Then moments later he was handed another penalty chance which he took with both hands to give Edinburgh the lead.

Rhys Priestland missed a long range penalty attempt three minutes before half-time.

Before the match, both Ben Cairns (hamstring) and Nick De Luca (groin) were withdrawn from the starting line-up with Jim Thompson switching from full-back into the midfield alongside John Houston.

National Academy back Tom Brown, a Scotland under-20 internationalist, was called into Edinburgh's squad as cover with Simon Webster being promoted into the starting line-up and Mark Robertson moving to full-back.

Edinburgh: Robertson; Webster, Thompson, Houston, Visser, Godman, M Blair (captain); Traynor, Kelly, G Cross, MacLeod, S Turnbull, MacDonald, Rennie, R Grant.

Replacements: Ford (for Kelly 54), Jacobsen (for Traynor 54), McKenzie (for S Turnbull 66), Newlands (for 65), Laidlaw (for M Blair 63), D Blair (for Godman 63), Brown.