OOH-AH ED-IN-BRA!
Edinburgh: 13 (6) Cardiff: 23 (8)
You know you want to.
Some years ago, your correspondent saw former Embra winger Conan Sharman playing for the first time, turning out for the Saltires at the Gala 7s. So electrifying was his pace that eventually as soon as he received the ball in space in his own 22, opponents would start trudging towards their own posts, knowing that they had no chance of catching him. Residents of the Gala, Melrose, and Tweedbank areas were left with a vague ringing in their ears for several days after the tournament, subsequently linked to the sonic booms generated by Conan's frequent accelerations to Mach 3 throughout the afternoon.
Sharman remains the club's record holder for tries scored in a Heineken game (3 against Neath in 1999/2000). But one wonders if Embra fans tonight saw a worthy heir to the speedster in the form of 19 year old apprentice Dave McCall. And the boy can tackle too.
The Inverleith Express can look back with great satisfaction on his Edinburgh debut, one of a number of positives to emerge from a game that slipped disappointingly away from the hosts' grasp deep into injury time. Cardiff tested him out early on, both under the high ball and attacking his wing. Aside from an early flap at a garryowen, the youngster proved sound in his defensive chores. Finding him disappointingly safe, the Blues moved elsewhere. He was always looking for work, and featured in a number of promising Embra attacks. Once he adjusts to the pace of the game at this level he will be a real asset to the Edinburgh side.
As Bonfire Night approaches, many observers understandably mistook the green clouds wafting over the field before kick off as a pyrotechnic of sorts. They were, in fact, streams of supercooled cryogenic vapour, released into the atmosphere as veteran stand-off Duncan "Hodgey" Hodge was prepared by the medical team for his first start of the season. Despite a promising start, though, Edinburgh soon found themselves three points down after an early Blair penalty for the visitors.
After a Hodge break had sparked a thrilling Embra attack, however, a Cardiff ruck offence allowed Paterson to level on nine minutes.
But, not for the first time this season, an Embra error from the restart set up a spell of Cardiff pressure. Can we please sort this out? Eventually Kiwi back row Rush flopped over for the unconverted try on 11 minutes. And it was a lack of precision at key moments like this that was to cost the home side dear in a match they coulda, shoulda won.
The rest of the first half saw both sides running the ball, with Edinburgh looking promising at times. But on several occasions the final pass was not delivered; Paterson just failed to release Cairns on 14 minutes, for example, when the young centre would surely have scored if the offload had been made. On the credit side, however, the home defence was rock solid and their lineout, with Mustchin to the fore, effective in stealing enemy ball.
Eventually, good Embra phases drew the penalty on 32 minutes that saw Paterson boot the home team to within two points with his second penalty. An 8-6 deficit was probably a fair reflection of the Blues' slight edge in the half.
Early in the second half, a borderline dummy pass off a ruck by Fairhurst drew the Embra defence offside, and they were slightly unluckily penalised. New Zealander Blair sent a mortally wounded duck towards the posts, which bounced on the crossbar and wheezed over for a five point Cardiff lead.
That was the cue for Edinburgh to take control. On 50 minutes, McCall and replacement Hogg sparked a superb attack, stopped only by a cynical ruck offence by Shellard, who was carded for his trouble. Although Cardiff defended well and cleverly, after numerous phases in the Cardiff 22, Ned Kelly danced over for a try that had been coming for some time, goaled by Paterson for a 13-11 lead.
This was the cue for Hodge to keep more of the play in the Cardiff half with some characteristically intelligent touch kicking. The game was there to be closed out. But gradually, Cardiff's determination to run the ball started to pay dividends. Too often, little errors by Edinburgh gave away possession unecessarily; the home side were unable to put the ball up the jumper and keep the visitors out of range. Indeed, only poor handling and solid home tackling foiled a number of promising Cardiff attacks. But, unfortunately, two minutes into injury time, White took advantage of an overlap to nip over in the corner for a touchdown, well converted by Blair.
With only three minutes on the game clock, Edinburgh threw everything at Cardiff in an effort to reclaim the win. But they were turned over in midfield and James went over for a good, though unconverted try to deprive Embra of a bonus point.
On balance, Cardiff deserved to win, although it is disappointing that Edinburgh did not emerge with at least a bonus point. Their undefeated home record is now history, but they will take heart from knowing that they should really have won this game; and with a little more discipline would have done. The debutants and fringe players who played tonight will be more up to speed for the visit to the Dragons next weekend. Playing a strong side who play a similar style to Cardiff, they have an early opportunity to make amends for tonight's loss, and to make up some lost ground in the title race. For the sake of Edinburgh's championship aspirations, they really need to take it.
MAN OF THE MATCH: three tonight. Robinson got the Magnersleague award; MATT MUSTCHIN the local sponsors' prize for an excellent performance in tight and loose; and this column's award went to DAVE McCALL for an assured debut, promising great things for the future.
BONUS POINT WATCH: Disappointing to lose; even more disappointing not to get a losing bonus.
SCORERS:
Edinburgh: Paterson 2P 1C, Kelly 1T
Cardiff: Blair 2P 1C, Rush 1T, White 1T, James 1T
TEAMS:
Edinburgh: C Paterson, (capt); M Pyke, B Cairns, P Jorgensen, D McCall; D Hodge, G Laidlaw; A Jacobsen, A Kelly, C Smith, M Mustchin, S Turnbull, A Strokosch, R Rennie, D Callam.
Blues: B Blair; M Luveitasau, J Robinson, M Stcherbina, C Czekaj; N Robinson, E Fairhurst; J Yapp,G Williams, T Filise, D Jones, J Goode, S Morgan, R Shellard, X Rush (capt).
Referee: Clancy (RFU).
Att: 3,083