Scotland star John Hardie made one try and scored another to keep Edinburgh’s slim quarter-final qualification hopes alive with a hard fought European Challenge Cup win over London Irish at Murrayfield.
The open-side delivered the brilliant off-load for Tom Brown’s first half try and scored the second himself to clinch victory, but despite three wins from four in their pool the lack of bonus points so far is likely to prove crucial. Grenoble’s win at Agen probably means Edinburgh now need to go to the south-east of France and win in January.
They needed a try bonus to “equalise” the doubleheader with Irish but that never looked likely with the Aviva Premiership’s only win-less side having most of the attacking ball throughout.
Irish appeared to have most of the benefit of a swirling wind around the Murrayfield stands in the first half, and made good use of it early on with some searching kicks by Shane Geraghty.
Greig Tonks kicked out on the full after retreating to field one and from the lineout Irish made ground far too easily before hooker Gerard Ellis was driven over out on the left for the opening try, which went unconverted.
Edinburgh bounced straight back within five minutes thanks to a rare botched lineout from Irish, and Hardie’s break and superb off-load allowed Tom Brown to dart over close to the posts, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne converting.
The scrum-half booted a penalty when Irish took down a maul and another as Edinburgh’s scrum started to get on top, with Geraghty landing one from long range for the Exiles.
The visitors three times got into the home 22 in the remainder of the half but were repelled each time as the home defence started to tighten after their nervy first few minutes.
Edinburgh suffered a double blow at the break with Matt Scott and Anton Bresler replaced with knocks and they’d clearly lost some rhythm in attack at the start of the second half.
Irish continued to pin them back in their own 22 and although the home side showed more tenacity in defence, when on the hour mark replacement prop Tom Smallbone crashed over from close range, it was the elast Irish deserved.
Edinburgh hadn’t had ball in the Irish 22 in the second half but Hidalgo-Clyne’s smart break and offload to Brown got them there with seven minutes left.
From solid lineout ball they worked a good maul, Hardie spinning off untouched to go over with ease for the clinching try, which went unconverted.
Att: 2671
Edinburgh: G Tonks (J Cuthbert 58); D Hoyland, M Allen, M Scott (A Strauss 40), T Brown; P Burleigh, S Hidalgo-Clyne; R Sutherland, R Ford, WP Nel; A Bresler (J Ritchie 39), A Toolis; M Coman (capt), J Hardie, C Du Preez.
London Irish: T Ojo; A Lewington, T Fowlie (F Mulchrone 62), J Williams, A Fenby; S Geraghty, D Allinson (C Noakes 71); T Court (R Smallbone 56), G Ellis (J Stevens 39), B Franks (L Halavatau 75); E Sheriff, N Rouse; B Cowan, C Gilsenan (S Steele 58), O Treviranus.
Ref: D Wilkinson (IRFU)