THEY DON'T LIKE IT UP EM
Glasgow: 25 (19) Edinburgh: 20 (7)
Unfortunately, the above described Embra's general approach to this afternoon's match at the Firhill Arena. The side that wanted it the most duly came away with the victory and thoroughly deserved it. Edinburgh were out-thought and, more importantly, outfought.
Glasgow got their tactics spot on, starting the afternoon in Embra faces and staying there for most of the next 80 minutes. Edinburgh struggled with the pressure that the home side put on them and did not cope well with the sheer physicality of the Glasgow pack. Strangely, on a pitch as small as Firhill's, they tried to play too much rugby in their own half and gave away unnecessary kickable penalties in the first half in particular.
John Barclay was outstanding in a home back row that proved pivotal. Pretty much every time Embra threatened, the openside managed to snaffle ball at the breakdown. He was ably assisted by James Eddie's strangely effective Tasmanian Devil impression and a wonderfully commanding performance from Kelly Brown at No 8.
Further out, Morrison's power and elusiveness was a catalyst for Glasgow's advantage in the first half, while both Evans brothers looked dangerous at times given a little more space than they had enjoyed at Murrayfield on Boxing Day.
The opening minute was a taste of things to come. In front of an excellent crowd that must have been the biggest of the season for any sport at Firhill, Barclay won Edinburgh ball at the breakdown and Morrison set sail on a terrific run into the Edinburgh 22. Although a knock on halted the attack, Glasgow looked up for it. They looked even more up for it a couple of minutes later as a good old-fashioned multi-player dust up developed in front of the main stand.
Yet it was Edinburgh who opened the scoring on 11 minutes. With the referee playing advantage for a Glasgow ruck offence, Dr Geoff Cross, The Planet's Poshest Prop, emerged from the wreckage, engaged third gear and motored over from the 22 for a good solo try, converted by Godman.
Not untypically, Edinburgh failed to cope with the restart, losing possession then conceding a penalty for killing the ball. Parks knocked over the three pointer. He narrowed the lead further with another penalty five minutes later after Jacobsen had been penalised and carded for clearing out a ruck recklessly. Seemed a bit harsh given the prodigious numbers of fists and boots that were engaging with opponents with impunity throughout proceedings, but there you go.
One of Dan Parks' great strengths at this level is the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over when Glasgow have pressure in the enemy 22. As the second quarter began, he notched an alert dropped goal when Glasgow phases seemed to be leading nowhere. 9-7 Glasgow.
Although Edinburgh made it through the rest of the power play unscathed, they were very much on the back foot as Glasgow enjoyed the territorial advantage. Eventually the pressure told, with the TV official confirming that Morrison had scored a good try in injury time, Parks converting. The Glasgow playmaker extended the lead at half time with a second dropped goal as the ten minutes of injury time came to an end.
The second half started with Glasgow continuing where they had left off. But it was Godman who scored next - a penalty for offside on 47 minutes. The mercurial midfield mini-maestro knocked over another on 50 minutes to cut the lead to 19-13. Edinburgh were beginning to put together a few decent phases.
But Parks and then replacement Jackson added penalties to give Glasgow a handy 25-13 lead with ten minutes left. Edinburgh were looking ponderous in attack as the Glasgow back row slowed their ball at the breakdown.
The losing bonus point, at least, was secured in injury time. David Blair found Cairns who nipped through a gap to cross untouched for a fine try, converted by Blair Minor himself for a 25-20 final score. Glasgow were never going to overturn Edinburgh's 33 point advantage from the first leg of the series, so Edinburgh duly became this season's David Lloyd 1872 Challenge Cup champions.
However, the grim expressions on the players' faces at no-side showed that their focus today had instead been - rightly - on Magnersleague points. In an incredibly tight league, they are now two points behind Glasgow and six behind leaders The Ospreys. They will be determined to get back on track against Ulster at Murrayfield next Friday evening.
SIR CHRIS HOY-RELATED FASCINATING FACT OF THE WEEK: Sir Chris holds the sea-level world record over one kilometre.
SCORERS:
Glasgow: Parks 3P 2DG, Jackson 1P, Morrison 1T
Edinburgh: Godman 2P 1C, Dr Cross 1T, Cairns 1T
TEAMS:
Glasgow: Stortoni, O'Hare, M. Evans, Morrison, T. Evans, Parks, Pinder, Va'a, Thomson, Low, Barker, Kellock, Eddie, Barclay, Brown.
Edinburgh: Hugo, Robertson, Cairns, De Luca, Webster, Godman, M. Blair, Jacobsen, Ford, G. Cross, Mustchin, J. Hamilton, Newlands, MacDonald, Hogg.
Referee: Debney (RFU)