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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED FOR GUNNERS

Edinburgh: 26 (38) Southern Kings: 0 (0)



This one had the air of the early heats in an Olympic 100 metre competition.  Usain Bolt surges to a big lead then eases down 30 metres before the finish line to save himself for the real deal later in the competition.  Edinburgh scored three tries in the first quarter, secured the bonus by the half and spent the second period emptying the bench to give some youngsters a run out.

That perennial competitor, Nathan Fowles, at one point in the first half was exhorting the Embra tifosi into a frenzy as the Gunners went after the bonus point try.  Unkind observers might suggest that's a big ask at the best of times, let alone during an encounter as routine as this one.  In an impressive outing, George Taylor's main foe seemed to be his studs, rather than the visitors, so often did he lose his footing.

Yet while the Kings have enjoyed just one solitary win this term, at home over Glasgow, they have a talented back three and showed ambition in attack, albeit so often let down by poor handling.  They also proved to be a physical side in a match that was not without niggle.  The Gunners still had to put the work in to secure the bonus.

The Beast From the East made 150 metres with ball in hand and beat nine defenders. Not far short of the Kings' overall total.  And van der Merwe's powerful running was a factor in the Gunners' dynamic attack this evening.  He passed only once, but that was a scoring offload to 'Deadly' Dougie Fife, who began a sound outing at full back with a try on just three minutes.

'Mr Darcy' Graham notched a quickfire brace on six and 10 minutes, after good work from Hickey and future Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie, another young man who had an assured game.  The Gunners were 19-0 to the good early and one felt that this was going to be a Leinster-style shellacking.  The Kings just did not look like they wanted to be in Edinburgh at all. 

But gradually the South Africans stopped the rot, keeping ball and gaining some field position. But they didn't really threaten and Edinburgh secured the bonus point try just before the break.  Hickey knocked a penalty to the corner, settgin the scene for the returning Rory Sutherland to cap a solid return with a try from short range to stretch the advantage to 26-0.

Simon Berghan was the next to cross, on 45 minutes.  After Graham had been hauled down just short, the tighthead ran a line worthy of Matt Scott, against the grain and at pace, to surge over for what was - unbelievably - the first try of his Edinburgh career.

With the match all but won, the Gunners rang the changes to save key players, notably Bill Mata, for next weekend's key European match at Toulon. The replacements included the introduction of Charlie Shiel at half back.  He looked comfortable at this level and he linked beautifully with a rampaging Miller to put replacement hooker Cammy Fenton over for the final try of the match, just after the hour.

The five league points saw the Gunners move to second in PRO14 Conference B for now.  Leinster are well out of sight, 19 points ahead.  The remainder of this regular season is going to be a dog fight between the Gunners, Benetton, Scarlets and Ulster to secure playoff rugby.  Maintaining momentum despite the disruption that will be caused by the Six Nations will be crucial.  That will test Edinburgh's depth.  On the evidence of the performances of young and not so young second stringers this evening, they are in a good place.

Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this Edinburgh performance was not so much the six tries, but the clean sheet.  The match ended with the Kings pounding the Gunners' line, but the Embramen refused to yield even a consolation score. Job done.