Edinburgh Rugby 20-17 Newcastle Falcons
Edinburgh began the 2011/12 campaign in front of their home fans with an impressive performance, and importantly a victory, against a dogged Newcastle Falcons side.
Following last weekend’s win over Sale Sharks, the home side got off to a good start against the Falcons, with Phil Godman testing the visitors defence early on. Sep Visser, who was making his first Edinburgh start, also troubled his opposite man on more than one occasion.
After two wins from two, Edinburgh head coach Michael Bradley will be encouraged by the progress made during pre-season.
He said: "The win was a bonus but the standard dropped from last week. The fans were brilliant tonight and the atmosphere was great, with the fans being so much closer to the pitch. Tonight showed Edinburgh's capacity to score tries out of nothing. It's exceptional, but we need to perform for the full 80 minutes."
The first scoring opportunity came after 11 minutes, when the visitors were awarded a penalty by referee Andrew McMenamy, but stand-off Jimmy Gopperth struck the post with his attempt at goal. However, just three minutes later, it was left to Edinburgh captain Greig Laidlaw to show the way, as he slotted a long-range penalty to give the home side the lead.
Gopperth, though, made amends for his earlier penalty miss by levelling the scores after quarter of an hour. The stand-off getting the Falcons off the mark after some good phases of forward play led to an infringement by the Edinburgh defenders.
The home side looked the livelier for much of the opening period, and strung together numerous phases of play, but that was somewhat counteracted by a yellow card to centre Jim Thompson after half an hour. The versatile back deemed to have committed a professional foul, and given 10 minutes in the sin-bin for his troubles.
It wasn’t long before the visitors made their numerical advantage count, as a cleverly worked blindside move allowed centre Luke Eves to score, following on from a strong 5 metre scrum. Gopperth looked as though he had found his kicking boots as he added the conversion from wide out to give the Falcons a 10-3 lead.
I t was the turn of the home side, though, to strike, as they deservidely levelled the scores before the interval. Phil Godman, making his return to Murrayfield after a long injury layoff, ignited a counter attack, that led to a breakaway from fullback Tom Brown. After beating several would-be tacklers, he offloaded to captain Laidlaw, who scored Edinburgh’s first home try of the season. He converted his own try, to level the scores
HALF-TIME: Edinburgh Rugby 10-10 Newcastle Falcons
The second half was a somewhat quieter affair, with a multitude of substitutions breaking up the floy of play. Newcastle took the lead again after 58 minutes, when winger Luke Fielden latched onto the end of a probing grubber behind the Edinburgh defence, while replacement Joel Hodgson added the conversion.
At that stage, it seemed the home fans would go home disappointed, but that was to change just eight mintues later. Good work by Tim Visser, and clever handling from Hamish Watson set up replacement hooker Steven Lawrie to score his first try since returning to the club in the summer.
Then, with just four minutes remaining, after more good work by Visser to get the home side over the gain line, the Falcons were deemed to have infringed and it was left to the outstanding Laidlaw to add the three points that clinched the win for the home side.
FULL-TIME: Edinburgh Rugby 20-17 Newcastle Falcons
It will now be all-eyes towards next Friday night, when Cardiff Blues visit Murrayfield in the first RaboDirect PRO12 match of the season.
Edinburgh Rugby team: Tom Brown; Sep Visser, Jim Thompson, John Houston, Lee Jones; Phil Godman, Greig Laidlaw; Kyle Traynor, Andy Kelly, Jack Gilding, Grant Gilchrist, Steven Turnbull, Sean Cox, Roddy Grant, David Denton
Substitutes: Steven Lawrie, Lewis Niven, John Cox, Esteban Lozada, Hamish Watson, Alex Black, Gregor Hunter, James King, Matt Scott, Tim Visser
Newcastle Falcons team: Tom Catterick; Luke Fielden, James Fitzpatrick, Luke Eves, Rikki Sheriffe; Jimmy Goperth, Chris Pilgrim; Grant Shiells, Rob Vickers, Ashley Wells, James Hudson, Andrew Van der Heijden, Mark Wilson, Redford Pennycook, Richard Mayhew
Substitutes: Joe Graham, Dan Frazier, James Hall, Tim Swinson, Ally Hogg, Will Chuddley, Jordi Pasqualin, Joel Hodgson, Will Welch, Fred Burdon
Referee: Andrew McMenemy
SIGN UP FOR NEW PERSPECTIVES IN SEASON 2011/12! All of Edinburgh Rugby’s regular RaboDirect PRO12 matches and Heineken Cup home games are included in our 2011/12 season ticket package. Other benefits include access to the reserved seating sections to guarantee you a premium view of the match while you’ll also be able to sign two friends into the pre and post-match supporters’ lounge at Murrayfield Wanderers. Season tickets are priced at £35 for under-18s, £90 for students/senior citizens and £180 for adults. For more information visit www.edinburghrugby.org, call 0131 346 5180 or visit the Murrayfield Ticket Centre (just off Roseburn Street) in person.
