Glasgow sail to the top
Glasgow will enter the New Year at the top of the Magners League following their 25-12 victory over Edinburgh at Firhill.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 27/12/09 6:38pm
Glasgow will enter the New Year at the top of the Magners League following their 25-12 victory over Edinburgh at Firhill.
Dan Parks led the home side to success, kicking four penalties and a drop-goal as well as converting Richie Vernon's try in the 48th minute.
Edinburgh were unable to breach the solid Glasgow defence and despite securing four penalties from the boot of Chris Paterson, they were very much the weaker side of the Christmas Scottish derby.
The hosts took an early lead as Dan Parks claimed his first penalty in the third minute, but Chris Paterson replied with his own penalty soon after.
Parks landed his second in the 10th minute, making him the first man to reach 1000 Magners League points, and despite Paterson's efforts the fly-half had kicked Glasgow into a 15-12 lead by the end of the first session.
Close
Glasgow came tantalisingly close to grabbing the first try in the opening 40 minutes, with only the video referee denying a Jon Welsh touchdown, but Richie Vernon and Thom Evans were unable to break through the visitors' defence, with David Callam and Scott Newlands putting in the big hits.
The touchdown finally came seven minutes into the second half, when number eight Vernon spun out of a couple of tackles to pitch over the Edinburgh line.
Parks landed the conversion from the touchline then widened the home side's lead with his fifth triumphant penalty.
This proved to be a wake-up call for the visitors, who were cajoled into action and pounded the Glasgow line for 10 minutes, although their efforts proved fruitless.
Paterson missed a penalty with 10 minutes on the clock to epitomise the afternoon for Edinburgh and the visitors failed to find the hole in Glasgow's defence in the closing stages of the clash, sealing the win for the hosts and installing them as league leaders.
