Pro12: Edinburgh 20-8 Glasgow Warriors

By Clive LindsayBBC Sport Scotland
Edinburgh captain Mike Coman lifts the 1872 Cup
Edinburgh captain Mike Coman lifted the 1872 Cup at Murrayfield
Edinburgh (20) 20
Try: Visser 2 Con: Hidalgo-Clyne 2 Pen: Hidalgo-Clyne 2
Glasgow Warriors (3) 8
Try: Matawalu Pen: Russell

Edinburgh ended a run of six defeats at the hands of Glasgow to win the 1872 Cup on aggregate and prevent the Warriors going top of the Pro12 table.

Finn Russell nudged Warriors in front but two tries by Tim Visser and the kicking of Sam Hidalgo-Clyne gave Edinburgh a 20-3 half-time lead.

Niko Matawalu gave Glasgow hope with a solo try just after the break.

But Edinburgh stifled Warriors' comeback for a 26-24 aggregate win over their inter-city rivals.

In front of a crowd of 15,810 - a record for Edinburgh in the Pro12 - it was a meeting of differing strategies deployed by the respective coaches in response to Glasgow's 16-6 lead following the first leg at Scotstoun.

Edinburgh's Alan Solomons, whose side started the evening ninth in the Pro12 table, made light of the possibility of fatigue by making only two changes despite the six-day turnaround.

In contrast, most of Glasgow's 10 changes were down to Gregor Townsend's preference for rotation rather than due to injuries for the team lying second.

Edinburgh almost stole in for a try in the opening seconds when Dougie Fife took advantage of some hesitation in the visiting defence to surge towards the try line before being thwarted by a fine tackle from Alex Dunbar.

Tim Visser scores a try for Edinburgh
Tim Visser scored two tries on his return to the Edinburgh line-up

Glasgow soon settled though and after advancing into the opposition half, Russell kicked them ahead with a penalty after 11 minutes.

Edinburgh responded well with a fine rolling maul but a couple of handling errors saw them leave the Glasgow line empty handed.

However they finally levelled the scores through a monster penalty from Hidalgo-Clyne.

That gave Edinburgh heart and, after dominating a series of set-pieces, Hidalgo-Clyne was presented with a more simple kick to put the home side in front after 26 minutes.

The lead was extended further after a fine Greg Tonks pass presented Visser, on his return to the side, with the opportunity to dive over the line, with Hidalgo-Clyne adding the conversion.

Glasgow tried to respond, but Peter Horne's loose pass was intercepted by Visser, who sped 70 yards from his own half to score under the posts and give Hidalgo-Clyne a simple conversion.

Matawalu manufactured a response shortly after the break by managing to beat Jack Cuthbert to his own kick through.

Russell failed with the conversion attempt and, as Glasgow struggled to find holes in a strong home defence, Hidalgo-Clyne missed two penalty attempts of his own.

However, despite failing to add to their score in the second half, Edinburgh held on to become deserved winners of the 1872 Cup and move up two places in the Pro12 table.

Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons: "I thought the side played incredibly.

"Glasgow are one of the top teams in the Pro12 and to be 10 points down and come out and win the trophy is exceptional.

"It is just reward for the effort this team has put in and the progress this team has made.

"It was an absolute team effort - that's what we're about.

"We've got a very strong team spirit and team ethic and that, I think, came through."

Glasgow Warriors head coach Gregor Townsend: "Not good enough to win the game, not good enough to retain the 1872 Cup.

"Edinburgh were the better team, edged us in a number of areas.

"We started the second half better, but we were way off our best.

"It was a frustrating last 30 minutes of the game for everybody except Edinburgh supporters."

Edinburgh: Cuthbert, Fife, Scott, Burleigh, T. Visser, Tonks, Hidalgo-Clyne, Dickinson, Ford, Andress, Bresler, B. Toolis, Coman, Grant, Denton. Replacements: Sutherland for Dickinson (57), W. Nel for Andress (30), McKenzie for Bresler (65), Cochrane for Coman (77), Watson for Grant (75). Not Used: Kennedy, Heathcote, Beard.

Glasgow Warriors: Murchie, Maitland, Dunbar, Horne, Seymour, Russell, Matawalu, Reid, Hall, Welsh, Gray, Kellock, Wilson, Holmes, Strauss. Replacements: Hogg for Murchie (51), Vernon for Horne (57), Allan for Reid (51), Brown for Hall (41), Murray for Welsh (53), Nakarawa for Kellock (41), Eddie for Holmes (62). Not Used: A. Price.

Att: 15,810

Ref: Nigel Owens (Wales).