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December 29, 2012

Edinburgh 17 - 21 Glasgow Warriors

GUINNESS PRO12 match played at Murrayfield on Saturday December 29th 2012 | No comments

Ryan Wilson put in a man-of-the-match performance
Glasgow return from Edinburgh with four points and the 1872 Cup after a 21-17 win at Murrayfield.

Glasgow went into the interval with a 16-3 lead courtesy of tries from wing Sean Maitland and Ruaridh Jackson, plus two penalties from Peter Horne, who was also sin-binned.

A Greig Laidlaw penalty was the solitary reply for Edinburgh, who last won the 1872 Cup in 2008-09, and their hopes were hit further when Allan Jacobsen was sin-binned and Henry Pyrgos scored a try.

Roddy Grant's converted score after 59 minutes gave the hosts some hope and Tim Visser scored five minutes from time, with Laidlaw kicking his side within four points.

But the late rally ended there as Glasgow saw out the remaining seconds to retain the derby bragging rights they have held since the 2009-10 season.

Watching interim Scotland head coach Scott Johnson will have been warmed by Glasgow's display with the Six Nations in mind, but, until the final 20 minutes, the Scotland players in Edinburgh's ranks did little to enhance their reputations with places at stake for the Calcutta Cup opener with England at Twickenham on February 2.

Only a win for the hosts by 10 points or more would take the trophy from Glasgow, but that contest ended early on.

Glasgow's forwards bullied their Edinburgh counterparts in the first half and the hosts' game was riddled with errors.

The visitors won a penalty at the first scrum and forward momentum ensued.

Jackson received quickly recycled ball, drew his man and Maitland, on a good line, crashed over. Horne missed the conversion.

Laidlaw kicked a penalty following a late aerial challenge by Stuart Hogg on Greig Tonks, before Horne was sin-binned for a tip-tackle on Matt Scott, who had not even received the ball.

That was as good as it got for Edinburgh in the first period as they failed to trouble short-handed Glasgow, with Laidlaw missing a simple kick to put his side a point ahead and Horne returning with the visitors' two-point lead intact.

Captain Laidlaw's attempt to spark Edinburgh with a quick-tap backfired as fly-half Piers Francis' pop-pass towards Netani Talei was intercepted by Jackson, who had enough pace to hold off Tonks and score in the left corner. Horne's conversion attempt hit the post.

Hooker Dougie Hall had a try curiously disallowed before Horne kicked two penalties to give the visitors a healthy half-time lead; their advantage in the 1872 Cup contest a near-unassailable 22 points.

Glasgow resumed on the attack and DTH van der Merwe was denied by the television match official after David Denton's tackle forced him into touch.

Sean Lamont, Jackson and DTH van der Merwe contrived to make a mess of another scoring opportunity as Glasgow threatened again before Jacobsen was sin-binned for playing the ball on the floor.

Pyrgos dropped over for Glasgow's third try immediately but Horne again missed the conversion before Edinburgh claimed a lifeline entering the final quarter.

Scott retrieved Laidlaw's chip and Grant powered to the line.

Laidlaw converted but the good work should have immediately been undone.

DTH van der Merwe bounced through five tackles and presented the ball to Hogg, who dropped it over the try-line.

Glasgow were ruing the mistake, which also saw them miss out on a four-try bonus point, five minutes from time as Visser came in field to score from replacement Richie Rees' pass.

The visitors, though, saw out the remaining time to triumph.

Captain Alastair Kellock said: “The boys were magnificent tonight. From 1 to 15 and throughout the squad there was an intensity, which was great to see.

“Yes, we’re disappointed that we let them in for a late score but for the majority of the game we were very, very good.

“The backs were outstanding and they showed the quality that they have if they are given good ball.

“With hindsight, we would have liked to have taken both games with bonus points as the chances were there, and the guys will be disappointed with that, but we’ve come away from two tough games with eight league points in the bag.

“The reaction in the last ten minutes to them scoring was brilliant. The energy in the changing room was phenomenal at half-time and we managed to keep that going, especially in that final period, when we stepped up again and closed out the game."

Man-of-the-match Ryan Wilson said: “Edinburgh came back really strongly at us in the end and our guys had to stick in there. It was an absolutely fantastic effort by the lads in the closing minutes.

“But the real reason we won was the superb work by the whole squad, not only here, but at Scotstoun last weekend.

“Both matches were so tough, brutal more like. We can’t rest on this. We must kick on when we face Treviso at home on Friday.”

Referee Neil Paterson. (Scotland)
Attendance 11,225
Man of the Match Ryan Wilson
Team
1
Ryan Grant
2
Dougie Hall
3
Moray Low
4
Tom Ryder
5
Alastair Kellock
6
Josh Strauss
7
Robert Harley
8
Ryan Wilson
9
Henry Pyrgos
10
Ruaridh Jackson
11
DTH van der Merwe
12
Peter Horne
13
Sean Lamont
14
Sean Maitland
15
Stuart Hogg
Sub
Pat MacArthur
Sub
Gordon Reid
Sub
German Araoz
Sub
Tim Swinson
Sub
James Eddie
Sub
Nikola Matawalu
Sub
Duncan Weir
Sub
Graeme Morrison
Match Substitutions
Off On
Tom Ryder Tim Swinson
Off On
Josh Strauss James Eddie
Off On
Dougie Hall Pat MacArthur
Off On
Ruaridh Jackson Duncan Weir
Off On
Peter Horne Graeme Morrison
Off On
Sean Lamont Nikola Matawalu
Off On
Ryan Grant Gordon Reid
Off On
Moray Low German Araoz
Scorers
Sean Maitland Try 
Ruaridh Jackson Try 
Peter Horne Penalty
Peter Horne Penalty
Henry Pyrgos Try