Ben Cairns scored a memorable try for Edinburgh with two minutes of a thrilling contest remaining to defeat Glasgow 35-31 at the home of Scottish Rugby. 

Dan Parks had scored a converted try to put Glasgow in pole position with the clock ticking down, but Nick De Luca's break was finished off superbly by full-back Cairns.

Simon Webster scored a breathtaking try before Glasgow responded immediately through Kelly Brown to set up a grandstand finale at the home of Scottish Rugby.

In front of a crowd of 6,225, Mike Blair scored an expert try to extend Edinburgh's advantage over neighbours Glasgow to make it 21-9 in favour of the men in black and red at half-time, but Glasgow hit back through Moray Low to make it 21-16.

After making a world-class take, Blair embarked on a purposeful run up the pitch and after swapping passes with Simon Webster he grounded the ball underneath the posts.

He had earlier set up David Callam's try while Phil Godman had added the other points with his boot; scoring two penalties and a conversion.

Glasgow's points were scored by stand-off Dan Parks, who struck over three penalties in the opening 40 minutes of play.

Phil Godman’s boot proved to be the decisive factor between the two sides in the formative stages of a closely contested clash.

With more than just Magners League points at stake, Edinburgh came out of the blocks determined to finish 2007 as Scotland’s most successful club.

Godman got Edinburgh off the mark after only three minutes when his long-range penalty sailed over to hand the home side a three-point advantage.

But Glasgow started to find some level of continuity with their brand of build-up play and, after an infringement, stand-off Dan Parks expertly kicked a straightforward penalty to level the scores.

Nevertheless, Edinburgh raised the tempo again and after Mike Blair was denied a quick tap-and-go by referee Andrew Small, Godman was told by captain Allister Hogg to go for the posts and he scored a breathtaking penalty.

With Glasgow struggling to contain Edinburgh’s effervescent style of off-loading rugby, Godman swept over another penalty to make it 9-3 in favour of the home side after 20 minutes of the match had lapsed.

Scoring summary:

Edinburgh (21) 35
Tries: Callam, Blair, Webster, Cairns
Cons: Godman (3)
Pens: Godman (3)
Glasgow (9) 31
Tries: Low, Brown, Parks
Cons: Parks (2)
Pens: Parks (4)

Edinburgh Rugby Club squad to play Glasgow at Murrayfield (Friday 28 December, kick-off 7.30pm)
 
15 Ben Cairns
 
14 Andrew Turnbull
13 Nick De Luca
12 John Houston (Southwell 60)
11 Simon Webster
 
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair
 
1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Ross Ford (Kelly 70)
3 Gavin Kerr (Allori 43)
4 Matt Mustchin (Hamilton 70)
5 Ben Gissing
6 Allister Hogg (captain)
7 Ross Rennie
8 David Callam
 
Substitutes: Andrew Kelly, Augusto Allori, Craig Hamilton, Roland Reid, Ben Meyer, David Blair, Hugo Southwell.