A barnstorming try from Craig Smith and scores from Hugo Southwell, Allister Hogg, Phil Godman and Matt Mustchin have sealed a heavy win for Edinburgh. Backed by vocal support, Connacht went ahead when Edinburgh were penalised at the breakdown for not rolling away.

Stand-off Tim Donnelly struck over the penalty to put the visitors in front, but Connacht were then reduced to 14 men when Robbie Morris was sin-binned.

Edinburgh responded brilliantly through stand-off Godman who burst through Connacht’s defence to score a breathtaking try before adding the extras with a conversion.

Despite some exciting off-loading play, Edinburgh surrendered a careless interception which led to a breakaway try for Connacht.

Even though Hugo Southwell managed to make a last-ditch tackle, Connacht still scored through Donnelly.

Connacht were then penalised for boring in at the scrum but Godman could not repeat his earlier heroics with his penalty sailing agonisingly wide of the target.

But the Scotland internationalist made amends on 34 minutes when he scored a simple penalty right in front of the posts after Edinburgh had been unable to translate territory into points.

Just before half-time, Ben Cairns was yellow-carded after an infringement, but Edinburgh took the lead into the break.

After a spirited half-time team talk, Edinburgh emerged with a renewed sense of vigour in the second half and with Connacht choosing to leave openside Jonny O'Connor in the changing rooms after he had sufffered a concussion Edinburgh began to dominate at the breakdown.

As a result, Edinburgh began to produce quick ball which led to a series of thrilling 'keep the ball alive' phases of play and four tries in a breathtaking 20-minute spell.

The first try was scored by prop Smith who raced through on an overlap to touch down in the corner 11 minutes into the second half. That was followed up by Southwell's try before Allister Hogg scored a wonderful try to compound Connacht's misery. Matt Mustchin ended the rout with a breakaway try after the New Zealander had masterfully worked an interception before he set off for the line.

It was Edinburgh's biggest win of the season and the bonus point victory puts the team up into fourth spot in the Magners League table.

Edinburgh, attendance: 2506

15 Hugo Southwell
 
14 Simon Webster (Turnbull 62)
13 Ben Cairns
12 Nick De Luca (MacRae 63)
11 John Houston
 
10 Phil Godman
9 Mike Blair
 
1 Gavin Kerr (Allori 56)
2 Andrew Kelly (Lawrie)
3 Craig Smith (Kerr 69)
4 Craig Hamilton
5 Ben Gissing (Mustchin 47)
6 Allister Hogg (captain)
7 Ross Rennie (Cross 40)
8 David Callam
 
Substitutes: Augusto Allori, Steve Lawrie, Simon Cross, Matt Mustchin, Ben Meyer, Calum MacRae, Andrew Turnbull