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December 26, 2016

Edinburgh 12 - 25 Glasgow Warriors

GUINNESS PRO14 match played at Murrayfield on Monday December 26th 2016 | No comments

Junior Bulumakau gave Warriors the perfect start
Glasgow Warriors took the first leg of the 1872 Cup - and four PRO12 points - with a 25-12 win over Edinburgh at Murrayfield.

Junior Bulumakau was gifted an early try at Murrayfield and Josh Strauss crashed through a rolling maul to restore the visitors' lead.

Duncan Weir had kicked the hosts in front with two penalties and added two more but that was it for Edinburgh.

In a largely scrappy contest, Alex Dunbar finished off the best move of the game for Warriors' third try.

Having won the last three derby matches, Edinburgh, who sit a lowly 10th in the table, will have to wait until the final weekend of the league campaign for the return, with the 1872 Cup at stake, since the traditional Boxing Day - New Year double-header has been removed from the calendar this season.

Edinburgh's start to the match could scarcely have been more calamitous. They lost their own line-out and when Glasgow spread the ball wide Dunbar dropped a clever kick deep into Edinburgh territory.

Full-back Blair Kinghorn looked to have the situation under control but his attempt to go down on the loose ball served only to knock it over his own try-line for Bulumakau to touch down inside a minute.

The sides spent the next 20 minutes feeling each other out. With the match drifting from set-piece to set-piece, two Weir penalties nudged the home side in front.

Warriors penalty count was becoming a problem, conceding seven to Edinburgh's none after half an hour. Desperate defence and a lack of accuracy from the hosts in the attacking third kept the gap at one and they would soon be made to pay.

Glasgow elected to pop a very kickable penalty into the corner, and the gamble was rewarded when Strauss scored to finish off a highly effective rolling maul from the line-out. Russell converted to put his side 12-6 to the good.

Mark Bennett showed tremendous footwork and searing pace to slice through the heart of the Edinburgh defence. The home side scrambled to avert the immediate danger, but an infringement allowed Russell to kick Glasgow into a nine-point half-time lead.

Early in the second period Russell passed up a straightforward penalty chance, only to put his kick to touch dead.

Scrappiness was the order of the day - as it is in so many derby matches - and yet Glasgow's game-changers can spring to life from nowhere.

Stuart Hogg gathered a clearance kick and looked to be heading towards a mass of bodies, but in trademark style he tore through a tiny gap to take his side into the red zone. The attack yielded nothing though as Russell missed a straightforward penalty after an Edinburgh offside.

Weir made no such mistake as he brought Edinburgh back within six points.

The number 10s traded kicks, Russell improvising with a drop-goal when the ball wobbled off the tee, and, with the match delicately poised, the next score was crucial.

It was magnificently manufactured by Glasgow. After several phases spent pounding the Edinburgh line, a succession of stunning off-loads from Russell, Brian Alainu'use and Sean Lamont put Dunbar over. Russell's conversion sent Warriors 13 points clear.

Edinburgh tried to rally in the last five minutes but a lack of composure and the fearsome tackling of Warriors skipper Jonny Gray kept them at bay.

A consolation score looked certain when Damien Hoyland slalomed forward with the clock red and Viliame Mata plunged under the posts, only to be held up by three determined defenders.

Referee Iain Davies (Wales)
Attendance 21,036
Man of the Match Jonny Gray
Team
1
Alex Allan
2
Fraser Brown
3
Zander Fagerson
4
Brian Alainu'uese
5
Jonny Gray
6
Robert Harley
7
Simone Favaro
8
Josh Strauss
9
Henry Pyrgos
10
Finn Russell
11
Lee Jones
12
Alex Dunbar
13
Mark Bennett
14
Junior Bulumakau
15
Stuart Hogg
Sub
Pat MacArthur
Sub
Ryan Grant
Sub
Sila Puafisi
Sub
Adam Ashe
Sub
Chris Fusaro
Sub
Ali Price
Sub
Nick Grigg
Sub
Sean Lamont