Super sub Vellacott sends Scots home happy

BEN Vellacott’s try in the last minute saw Edinburgh emerge from a frustrating afternoon in Parma with a fivepoint haul and a first away win in the URC.

After a disjointed and error-strewn opening 50 minutes, two tries in quick succession from Stuart McInally and Boan Venter gave Mike Blair’s side the comfort of a 20-7 lead.

But their hopes of a bonus-point win were floundering until replacement Vellacott, who injected muchneeded urgency, found the tiniest gap in the left corner after Edinburgh had kicked a penalty to touch with the final play of the game.

“The work we did in the first half might not have looked pretty but it tired them out in the second half,” said Edinburgh coach Blair. “It took time to break them down but we’re pleased with the five points.”

Blair Kinghorn, on his return from injury at fly-half, put Edinburgh in front with an early penalty but it was Zebre, beaten in their last 13 matches, who made the more vibrant start.

Pierre Bruno was dragged into touch by Damien Hoyland but the Zebre winger powered onto Carlos Canna’s short pass to score after 15 minutes.

Edinburgh were hampered by inaccuracy initially, their first move of any fluency ending with a knock-on from No.8 Bill Mata. But their next attack saw centre Cammy Hutchison power through two tackles and slick hands from Jamie Hodgson, Kinghorn and Jamie Ritchie put Jack Blain over in the right corner to go 8-7 ahead.

Zebre wasted another opportunity before the interval when Erish Cronje spilled Junior Laloifi’s offload, and errors continued to dog both sides on the resumption. But the visitors gathered themselves and hooker McInally finished off a driven lineout to extend the lead after 53 minutes before Vellacott’s quick-tap penalty saw Zebre reduced to 14 men as flanker Jimmy Tuivaiti impeded him.

Edinburgh took swift advantage, prop Venter taking a tip-pass from Mesu Kunavulu to score just before the hour. This time Kinghorn added the extras to make it 20-7.

Antonio Rizzi’s penalty kept Zebre in touch and Edinburgh’s attempts to force a fourth try were frustrated until a late penalty award. Ritchie took the lineout, Vellacott did the rest.