Edinburgh defeat Glasgow Warriors to retain 1872 Cup
Sunday 3 January 2016 14:50, UK
Phil Burleigh's 74th-minute try snatched a 14-11 win for Edinburgh over Glasgow Warriors to retain the 1872 Cup.
With Glasgow's Scotstoun pitch sodden and unplayable, the second match in the Guinness PRO12 Scottish double-header was moved to Murrayfield in a decision reached on New Year's Eve.
And after their 23-11 win on December 27 at the national stadium, Edinburgh repeated the trick - but this time for the Gunners it was a smash-and-grab success.
Glasgow, who showed eight changes, deserved their 8-6 half-time lead, having scored the only try.
That came after 33 minutes through centre Mark Bennett after typical Glasgow phase play, with Duncan Weir having given them an early lead with a penalty.
Two penalties from Sam Hidalgo-Clyne had let Edinburgh briefly lead from the 25th minute.
Weir added a second penalty after 54 minutes, but a late surge by Edinburgh brought a penalty from Hidalgo-Clyne and a try from stand-off Burleigh, to ensure they both won the game for important league points, but hung on to the 1872 Cup for a second successive season.
Edinburgh kicked off with light drizzle falling but after just five minutes Glasgow took the lead with a penalty from Duncan Weir.
Glasgow, looking more focused and more powerful in the forward exchanges than in the previous game, made most of the first-half running but a couple of their unforced errors allowed Edinburgh to nudge ahead midway through.
Glasgow gave a way a penalty at a ruck in the 15th minute and Edinburgh scrum-half Hidalgo-Clyne struck to tie the scores.
Ten minutes later Glasgow were dispossessed on the attack, Edinburgh stand-off Burleigh kicked long and under-pressure Glasgow centre Mark Bennett held on too long. Hidalgo-Clyne kicked the penalty to put Edinburgh into a 6-3 lead.
In the closing stages of the half Glasgow got their phase play game going and a thrust was finished off by Bennett - but Weir was unable to convert.
The half ended with a replica move but referee Peter Fitzgibbon ruled out a score after consulting the television match official.
With rain steadily falling, Glasgow had a let-off seven minutes into the second half when Hidalgo-Clyne missed a penalty awarded against the Warriors scrum.
Seven minutes later Weir made no mistake, following more Glasgow phase play, to ease Glasgow 11-6 ahead.
Desultory midfield play was relieved in the 68th minute when Hidalgo-Clyne struck a penalty from 35 metres to cut the Glasgow lead to two points.
And with just five minutes to go Edinburgh pressure from a close-in lineout was rewarded with a try from Burleigh.
Glasgow, two points in arrears, responded by battering the Edinburgh line - but the capital side held out.
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