Edinburgh retained the 1872 Cup with only their second win in Glasgow in 15 years after a wholly deserved victory over their inter-city rivals at Scotstoun.
A late try by George Horne made the contest look much closer than it ever was, with Edinburgh’s setpiece domination again the key, but the capital side also looked by far the more dangerous outfit with ball in hand all afternoon.
A try from Stuart McInally early in the second half after Edinburgh’s scrummage dominance had resulted in Oli Kebble seeing a yellow card proved the key score, and Jaco van der Walt was successful with all four of his kicks to keep Edinburgh in front.
Their defence coped fairly easily with Glasgow’s attack, which was blunted even before they lost Stuart Hogg, Alex Dunbar and Pete Horne to injuries. The free-scoring Warriors didn’t really look like breaking through until Horne’s sniping score which came far too late to have any effect on the outcome.
Glasgow’s gameplan faltered on a desperate performance in their setpiece, struggling on their own ball in the scrummage and to retain their lineout ball as young hooker Grant Stewart was subbed at half-time. With Fraser Brown and George Turner both out for two months, the Warriors’ lineout problem could potentially derail their season.
Just as they did at Murrayfield, Edinburgh dictated terms completely in the first 40 minutes as Glasgow’s setpiece struggled to provide any serviceable ball for them to get on the front foot.
The Warriors did steal an early lineout on halfway, but that was just about their only profit from that source and they were in bother in the scrummage as well, an early shove providing a penalty chance for van der Walt, which he impressively kicked into the wind.
Glasgow’s response was a fine combination between Hogg and Tommy Seymour, but when Edinburgh infringed on the retreat Glasgow went for the corner and lost the ball after an untidy lineout.
The Warriors chose to go for the posts the next time and Hastings made the kick to level the scores, but silly indiscipline and poor execution continued to haunt the home side.
Typical of the indiscipline was Ryan Wilson being penalised for a “sledging” tap on the head of Grant Gilchrist as Glasgow won the ball at a maul, and from that possession Edinburgh’s patience through repeated phases close to the Warriors line was rewarded with van der Walt’s second penalty from close range.
Glasgow continued to be unable to control their lineout possession and it was Edinburgh who looked far more likely to score with ball in hand, van der Merwe twice stopped by Stuart Hogg as he threatened to break through.
But the Scotland full-back stayed in the sheds at half-time along with hooker Stewart and Glasgow suffered a couple of hammer blows to follow, Alex Dunbar limping off two minutes into the half and Oli Kebble yellow carded for repeated infringing at the scrum.
Edinburgh made full use of the extra man in the scrum shoving Glasgow off their own ball in the Warriors’ 22, and although Bill Mata was stopped just short off the base Edinburgh moved it swiftly for skipper McInally to wrestle his way over for the try, van der Walt converting.
Glasgow’s response was a strong series of phases close to the visitor’s line, but although Edinburgh were bending they didn’t break and Hamish Watson won turnover ball on the ground.
Another scrummage penalty allowed van der Walt to put further distance between the sides with his third success on the hour as Edinburgh’s domination continued.
A flurry of replacements for both sides as Glasgow tried desperately to break through broke the game up but Edinburgh’s defence only wilted with a minute and a half remaining when the younger Horne darted across from point blank range.
But Adam Hastings’ conversion went wide and there was no more time for the Warriors to claim even a losing bonus point.
Att: 7351
Glasgow Warriors: S Hogg; T Seymour, A Dunbar, P Horne, N Matawalu; A Hastings, A Price; O Kebble, G Stewart, D Rae; T Swinson, J Gray; R Wilson, C Gibbins, M Fagerson. Replacements: K Bryce for Stewart 40, J Bhatti for Kebble 47, S Halanukonuka for Rae 50, R Harley for Swinson 57, C Fusaro for P Horne 73, G Horne for Price 57, S Johnson for Dunbar 42, DTH van der Merwe for Hogg 40.
Edinburgh: B Kinghorn; D Graham, J Johnstone, C Dean, D van der Merwe; J van der Walt, H Pyrgos; P Schoeman, S McInally (capt), WP Nel; G Gilchrist, B Toolis; J Ritchie, H Watson, V Mata. Replacements: D Cherry for McInally 74, A Dell for Schoeman 71, S Berghan for Nel 71, C Hunter-Hill for Toolis 74, L Crosbie for Ritchie 71, N Fowles for Pyrgos 69, J P Socino for Dean 40.
Ref: G Clancy (IRFU)
