Edinburgh Bested in Inter-City
Glasgow: 34 (14) Edinburgh: 27 (13)
At this time of year, a weird sort of mass hysteria seems to descend upon most of the populace. Normally rational people lose all sense of proportion as they mob the supermarkets and major department stores, fighting for this year's trendy gadget or battling, panic-stricken, to make sure that they have enough food in the house to last six months so that they can make it through the five minutes or so that shops seem to close for over the festive period nowadays.
This bizarre mindset is nothing new to followers of Edinburgh Rugby. They see it on the park every week.
Chris Paterson's uncharacteristically foolish pass off a tap penalty on his own 22 that was duly intercepted by Andy Henderson for the decisive try to the home side as the game moved into the fourth quarter was typical of another feckless Edinburgh performance. At that stage, there was plenty of time left in the game to claw back Glasgow's advantage, and a simple kick to touch would have given Edinburgh the chance to build an attack. Then again, when your hooker is struggling to hit any part of a cow's anatomy with a banjo, maybe having the throw in is not much of an advantage. But, once again, no-one involved in Edinburgh's lineout emerged with much credit from this game, and it is a major concern that what was once one of the team's main strengths is now a serious weakness.
Edinburgh look like a side low on confidence, and they are tending to snatch at chances, rather than playing patiently. Their ball retention in the tackle area continues to be suspect, and ruins what is often some pretty good approach work. What's more, the pack are struggling to win decent ball at the lineout, or quick ball at the breakdown. The contrast between the sides in the latter respect last night was striking. As a result, Edinburgh's backs are not being given enough space to do some damage.
That said, Lynn Howells will have taken some positives from this game. The Edinburgh front row took apart their opposite numbers comprehensively, and the back row performed well. Ross Rennie put in a power of work at openside, while the ferocity of Ali Strokosch's tackling was eye-watering, and Dave Callam's explosive running demanded the very best of Glasgow's solid defence. Chris Bentley looked a good addition to the squad, not least in that he was involved in at least two off the ball dust ups, which suggest a commendably impolite mindset. In the backs, Ben Cairns again was a class act, and Andrew Easson looks comfortable at this level.
But a lack of an experienced hand on the tiller, and a tendency to make stupid mistakes at crucial times, gifting the opposition field position and points, are really hurting this team. Frankly, Embra are crying out for a stand off like Dan Parks, whose passing, tactical kicking, and ability to keep the scoreboard ticking over - as well as the small matter of 24 points - led Glasgow to a well-deserved win. While Phil Godman is a great talent, he has yet to show the ability to boss a game in the same way, which is why it is difficult to see past Parks as the first choice playmaker in the national team on current form.
It was, unusually for this fixture, an open, adventurous match, with both sides looking to run the ball at every opportunity, and being rewarded with three good tries apiece. Playing down the Hughenden incline, Edinburgh made the better start, keeping Glasgow pinned back in their 22 for much of the opening 10 minutes. Paterson was rewarded with a penalty chance after Ally Kellock was pinged for not releasing in the tackle. Yet Glasgow powered back straight away, and a bullocking run by Samopan prop Va'a set up a Parks drop.
Then Cairns countered off a poor home clearance, chipped and gathered, before feeding Di Rollo. The centre showed good hands to send Hugo over for the try that put the visitors back into the lead. A further Paterson penalty and two from Parks saw Edinburgh looking to go into the break with a handy 13-9 lead, probably deserved on the run of play.
But then Cairns was harshly sin-binned for a deliberate knock on between the Glasgow 22 and 10. It was a clear penalty, but difficult to see why a card was justified, particularly given the location and that the Embra defence had the situation covered. Glasgow took advantage, though, with man of the match Lawson and Jonny Petrie driving them up the hill. The ball was spun right from a ruck under the posts, Parks featuring at the start and end of the phase, when he dived over for a good score, giving Glasgow a one point lead, with the advantage of the slope to come.
Another penalty early in the second period, and a Turner try off a Lawson pass saw Glasgow edge to a 24-13 advantage. While Edinburgh were playing some good stuff at times, they were not managing to break down the resolute home defence.
And after another Parks dropped goal had stretched the lead to 14 points with 20 minutes left, Paterson's error in forcing the game allowed Henderson to end capital hopes with his converted try. At least a bonus point was salvaged from the wreckage, though, with Di Rollo crossing for a brace of late touchdowns, both converted by Paterson.
Things are just not happening for Edinburgh at the moment, whereas Glasgow played like a side full of confidence - as they should be in the wake of their excellent double over Narbonne. The Magners challenge remains alive for Embra, particularly if they can beat high-flying Llanelli at Murrayfield on 5 January. But to do that they will have to rediscover the grit that saw them start the season so well.
SCORERS:
Glasgow: Parks 3P 2C 2DG 1T, Turner 1T, Henderson 1T
Edinburgh: Paterson 3C 2P, Hugo 1T, Di Rollo 2T
TEAMS:
Glasgow: C Gregor; R Lamont, H O'Hare, A Henderson, Former Boy Band Member Thom Evans; D Parks, G Beveridge; J Va'a, S Lawson, M Low, D Turner, A Kellock (capt), J Eddie, J Petrie, J Barclay.
Edinburgh: Hugo; C Paterson (capt), M Di Rollo, A Easson, B Cairns; P Godman, M Blair; A Jacobsen, D Hall, G Cross, C Bentley, S Murray, A Strokosch, D Callam, R Rennie.
Referee: D Changleng (SRU).