LAST MEN STAND UP TO BE COUNTED
Edinburgh: 31 (17) Scarlets: 21 (14)
There has been much chat this week about how some matches, this evening's at BT Murrayfield included, devalue the Guinness PRO14. Granted, both Edinburgh and Llanelli fielded callow sides shorn of internationals and the injured. But this was a fantastically exciting encounter, ultimately won by the team that dug deep to keep their nerve and dog out the victory.
If last week in Italy saw key leaders posted missing, this week, everyone turned up - and stood up - back home. From Ross Ford 'doing a Berghan' to cut down a winger wide out to snuff out a certain score, to the brutal dominance of Pierre Schoeman in tight and loose; from a towering performance by Ally Miller in the back row, to the unfussy effectiveness of CH2 and Jamie Hodgson in the boilerhouse; from the calm control exerted by 'Hank' Pyrgos, to the two try return of Tom 'Schooldays' Brown.
And, naturally, another dominating shift from 'Big Big' Mata at the base of the scrum, who started and finished this match with a try in his latest Man of the Match performance.
Every match is a series of moments. When it really counted, the Gunners came out on top in them, no more so that in the final 10 minutes, when the pack put in a herculean effort to win a scrum penalty. That gave them field position and ultimately led to their fifth try, a score that denied the Scarlets even a losing bonus.
The Welsh side had their moments, scoring three good tries. But it wasn't to be their night, nor a happy return home for Sam Hidalgo-Clyne. Sadly, Scotland hope Blade Thomson lasted a quarter of an hour before a nasty looking injury saw him carried off. One hopes that it is not serious and he will debut for Scotland in the Autumn Internatonals.
The Gunners started strongly, pinning the visitors in their own 22 in teh opening exchanges. After Duhan van der Merwe had knocked on in goal trying to gather a smart Pyrgos kick, Mata notched the first try on eitght minutes. From an attacking lineout that rumbled forward, he powered his way over on a night whn he seemed to get over the gain line evry time he took the ball up.
The Scarlets replied almost immediately. Fonotia slung a great pass out of contact to Williams on the wing for their opener. But the Embramen hit back soon after. This time it was Mata who was the provider, feeding Tom 'Schooldays' Brown, the Law primary legend cutting back inside for a neat score.
Further Edinburgh pressure around the half hour so Brown cross for his brace, snaffling a well weighted Pyrgos pass. 17-7 Edinburgh and their tails were up. But it was only a 10 point margin and the Scarlets narrowed it just before the break, Asquith scoring off a nice kick by first five-eighth Jones.
When Llanelli started the second period the stronger side and 'Denis' Hickey was rightly carded after repeated Edinburgh infringements in their own 22, things were looking ominous. Kiwi utility back McNicholl scored off first phase ball and short handed Edinburgh were now 21-17 down despite their first half dominance. Was it to be a repeat of the capitulation against Zebre?
Instead, the spirit of season 2017/18 was reawakened as individual after individual won those key moments. Just before Hickey returned to the fray, the pack drove and Pierre Schoeman bullocked over for the bonus point score, converted by Socino, to retake the lead. Then Ford made his wonder tackle to preserve it.
Hickey was ensuring that the game was being played in the right part of the field, deep in enemy territoiry. Then came that scrummage penalty, won by the front row. Hickey kicked to the corner, llanelli's Gardiner was carded and Mata put the icing on the cake with his second try just before no-side.
An important victory and an important statement of intent going into the international break. The Gunners, this evening, sit third in PRO14 Conference B, just three points off second placed Scarlets.