HIDALG0-CLYNE BLITZ INSPIRES EDINBURGH

SAM HIDALGO-CLYNE came off the bench to bag a hat-trick and set up another try as Edinburgh surged to victory over Southern Kings. Three tries in the opening 19 minutes put Richard Cockerill’s side in command in Port Elizabeth but the hosts reduced the deficit to six by half-time. However, Dougie Fife sealed the bonus point and scrum-half Hidalgo-Clyne delivered a brilliant cameo display to claim 21 points himself in seven minutes. Edinburgh had lost against the Cheetahs seven days previously but were then joined in South Africa by seven Scotland internationals, following the end of the autumn Test series. Phil Burleigh, Simon Berghan, Grant Gilchrist, Cornell du Preez, Jamie Ritchie and Rory Sutherland all started and Ben Toolis came off the bench after helping Scotland to victory over Australia. Edinburgh started with intent and Fraser McKenzie went over inside three minutes after some sustained pressure near the Kings try line. Cockerill’s team crossed again three minutes later when Viliame Mata sprinted clear. Edinburgh lost Neil Cochrane to injury 11 minutes in, following a high tackle by Schalk Ferreira but the home skipper was sent to the sin bin as a result — and Gilchrist went over as Edinburgh kept up the pressure after a lineout on the five-metre line. Recent signing Jaco van der Walt took his tally with the boot to seven points to make it 22-3 but his dropped pass then offered the hosts a lifeline and Harlon Klaasen broke away to score. The South Africans were lifted and Kurt Coleman’s kicking saw them chip away at the lead. However, there was delight for Edinburgh on the hour mark as Hidalgo-Clyne fed Fife, following a scrum five metres out. Hidalgo-Clyne then took centre stage, converting all three of his own tries in the final ten minutes, before Dries van Schalkwyk scored a last-minute consolation try after du Preez was yellow-carded.