Edinburgh 24 Llanelli 14

VETERAN stand-off Duncan Hodge answered a late call to stop the recent rot for Edinburgh and lead them to a vital victory over title-chasing Llanelli Scarlets in the Magners League at Murrayfield last night, writes Steve Scott, rugby correspondent.

With only one win in their last six games, Lynn Howells’ side were badly in need of a lift in their first match of 2007 and suffered a blow with regular stand-off Phil Godman pulling out just two hours before the game with a throat infection.

However that allowed the 32-year-old former Scotland hero Hodge to step in and lead the side with an exemplary display of controlled stand-off play in front of a surprisingly dominant home forward pack.

Hodge kicked two penalties and a clinching drop goal which, in addition to skipper Chris Paterson’s five penalty successes, gave the Gunners a comfortable margin of victory over the Scarlets, who slumped to their third Magners League defeat in succession.

“It’s a big relief to get the win after three successive defeats and against a quality side like Llanelli,” said Welshman Howells, who was celebrating his first win over a team from his home country.

“There was a lack of composure from both sides and no structure in the first half, and fortunately for us we were the team that got it together at half-time and put some structure into the game—so we got what we deserved.”

Howells paid tribute to the way that Hodge stepped in, but gave credit to the whole team.

“I had every confidence in Duncan. He’s been a bit-part player for us this year so it was great to see him have such a good full 80 minutes, although I think we were dominant up front as well which made it easier for him,” he said.

There was one worry for the Edinburgh camp with a late injury to Scotland scrum-half Mike Blair, but there was no definitive diagnosis last night.

Hodge took a while to settle into the recast home midfield as the Scarlets enjoyed the best of the first half.

Edinburgh’s defence was mostly sound, however, forcing two turnovers close to their own line and confining Llanelli’s scoring to three close-range penalties from the boot of Wales stand-off Stephen Jones.

The home side had the best try-scoring chance after Garan Evans fumbled a Hodge grubber kick into touch close to his own line, but after Edinburgh worked an overlap Simon Taylor couldn’t hold a high pass at his shoulder.

Instead, they too relied on the reliable boot of skipper Paterson, who also kicked three penalties, one from 40 metres, to ensure the teams were level at half-time.

Edinburgh came out for the second half with renewed purpose and their best spell of the night, putting together strong phases and forcing two more penalties kicked by Paterson.

One move involving Hugo Southwell, Ben Cairns and Marcus Di Rollo deserved more than a three-pointer, but the Edinburgh skipper then passed up a chance to stretch his side’s lead to nine points with his first penalty miss of the evening.

Edinburgh were controlling the scrum, with Hodge’s pinpoint touch-kicking keeping the Scarlets pinned in their own half, and the veteran then stepped into the penalty-taking role, as Paterson took a knock, to boot over a beauty from 40 metres, putting his side 18-9 ahead.

Hodge kicked his second and Edinburgh’s seventh penalty as the Scarlets went offside in desperate defence, but with six minutes left was caught in possession and stripped of the ball, allowing Matthew Watkins to supply wing Darren Daniel for the first try of the night, which went unconverted.

The stand-off bounced back almost immediately with a snap drop goal from 35 metres to keep the Scarlets more than a converted try behind and confirm his side’s victory.

Attendance—2137.

Edinburgh—H Southwell; C Paterson (capt) (L Lopez-Fleming 66), M Di Rollo, M Dey, B Cairns; D Hodge, M Blair (J Senio 65); A Jacobsen, D Hall, A Dickinson; M Mustchin (C Bentley 37), S Murray; S Taylor, A MacDonald, D Callam (A Strokosch 57).

Llanelli—Garan Evans (M Stoddart 73); D James, M Watkins, Gavin Evans, D Daniel; S Jones, C Stuart-Smith; D Manu, K Owens (A Gravelle 51), J Davies (C Dunlea 66); A Jones, S MacLeod; S Easterby, J Bater (G Thomas 51), A Popham.

Referee—A Lewis (IRFU).