Edinburgh fall short at Scotstoun

  • 18 March 2022

Glasgow Warriors secured an opening leg 1872 Cup victory, turning the screw with a clinical second-half performance to claim a 30-17 win.

Flanker Tom Gordon twice put Warriors in front before Glen Young and Boan Venter responded.

The crucial moment proved to be a breakaway try from Josh McKay in the 56th minute which saw the home side go on to claim the win and move into third place in the United Rugby Championship, as well as taking the lead in the 1872 Cup.

Both teams were locked on 39 points before the game and were evenly matched until McKay’s try.

A stolen line-out and a deliberate knock-on from Edinburgh winger Emiliano Boffelli held up Warriors before the combined efforts of Henry Immelman and Matt Currie stopped Cole Forbes going over in the corner.

The breakthrough came from some close-range pressure when Gordon wriggled over.

Glasgow’s failure to deal with Edinburgh’s kick-off ensured they could not build on their lead, which had been extended by Duncan Weir’s conversion. Jack Dempsey let the ball bounce and McKay’s kick was charged down behind the try line, and Young converted the resulting pressure in the 14th minute despite Johnny Matthews’ efforts to hold the ball up.

Warriors got back on top, although they had to be smart to stop Henry Pyrgos scoring on a counter-attack, and it was a mistake from the visitors that led to the third try of the game in the 29th minute.

Jaco van der Walt’s kick fell into the hands of Sebastian Cancelliere. The winger fed Stafford McDowall, who set up Gordon to go over after a dummy.

Edinburgh responded well again and McKay did well to hold up Matt Currie after the centre burst through the lines. Edinburgh cut the gap through Boffelli’s penalty, but Weir restored the hosts’ seven-point lead just before the interval.

Edinburgh re-started strongly and benefited from a second penalty in quick succession when Venter went over. Boffelli levelled the scores.

The game turned on Cancelliere picking up a loose ball inside his own half as Edinburgh attacked. The Argentinian winger drove forward and infield knowing that McKay was overlapping and his no-look pass left three Edinburgh players exposed as the full-back ran up the right wing to cross.

Warriors got some more control of the game, with substitute Ross Thompson’s kicking adding eight further points as well as keeping Edinburgh on the back foot.

live commentary 7:35 PM Friday 18 Mar 2022

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Kick-off 7:35 PM

Glasgow Warriors

Edinburgh Rugby

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