EDINBURGH SPOIL THE BIG FAREWELL

Capital rivals fail to read the script for Townsend’s Glasgow sign-off

EDINBURGH winger Damien Hoyland spoiled Gregor Townsend’s leaving party with a man-of-thematch display that stunned Glasgow Warriors and took the shine off what should have been a special occasion for the home side.

It was his involvement at two key moments that turned the game the way of the visitors, who were superb in defence from the first whistle.

Hoyland saved a certain try from Tommy Seymour by getting under him and holding the ball up as he went over the line.

He also showed superb individual brilliance to shrug off a Stuart Hogg tackle and wriggle out of two more to score a vital second-half try that laid the foundations for victory.

Former Glasgow Warriors players — fly-half Duncan Weir, who put over five penalties and two conversions, and full-back Glenn Bryce, who scored the final try in the last ten seconds — also played their part in the win against their former club.

Hoyland’s display has put him in the frame for a Scotland call-up when Townsend names his first-ever Scotland squad for the tour matches against Italy, Australia and Fiji at lunchtime tomorrow.

It was Edinburgh’s best win of the season, especially as it came against a background of them being down to 13 men for a few minutes after Ross Ford and then Sam Hidalgo-Clyne picked up yellow cards.

Although Edinburgh won the battle at Scotstoun, they ultimately lost the war as the 1872 Cup — the trophy awarded to the team with the highest aggregate score over both derby matches — was won by Glasgow.

The win still should not be underestimated as it was Edinburgh’s first against Glasgow away from home since they triumphed at Hughenden back in 2003.

It was also a morale-boosting end to what has been a dreadful season for the capital club, who will have Richard Cockerill as their new head coach next season.

The first half of this pulsating match was a case of Edinburgh’s defence trying to cope with the Warriors’ attack. The home side just could not finish, with Finn Russell the worst offender when he lost the ball in contact with Seymour unmarked outside him. Alex Dunbar also butchered a chance with the line at his mercy.

Glasgow went ahead within the opening minute when Russell put over the first penalty of the match. Weir levelled the scores with the boot when Fraser Brown was penalised for not releasing.

The pair then exchanged another penalty each before Edinburgh had Ford yellow-carded for a high tackle on Ali Price. A man down they may have been, but Weir put them ahead after Glasgow were caught offside.

Hidalgo-Clyne, who had been flying into tackles early on, lost his discipline further when he picked up a yellow card for not releasing Price in the tackle.

Ford returned to the field with four minutes to play and just when it looked like the visitors would hold on for a surprising half-time lead, Glasgow put together a superb move.

Price picked the ball up off the back of a Glasgow driving maul and played a quick pass to Russell. He fed Scott Cummings, who played a sublime flick to his second-row partner Jonny Gray, who ran in to score. The conversion was an easy one, but Russell pushed it wide.

Although still down to 14 men, it was Edinburgh who opened the scoring in the second half through a long-range penalty from Weir.

Hidalgo-Clyne returned to the field five minutes into the second half, moments before Glasgow thought they had scored their second try.

Hogg and Peter Horne played the ball along the line to Lee Jones, who was judged by TMO Charles Samson to have a foot in touch before he put down the ball.

Not rolling away allowed Weir to put over his fifth straight penalty.

The visitors went further ahead after a piece of individual brilliance by Hoyland. Prop Simon Berghan was involved as the ball went through the hands of Cornell Du Preez to the Edinburgh winger, who shrugged off a challenge by Hogg to score. Weir put over the extras.

The TMO was in action for a second time when he ruled that Hoyland had held up Seymour as he barged over.

From the five-metre scrum, the ball was moved along the line to Russell, whose pop-up pass to Hogg running at an angle saw the full-back go over. Russell converted off the post.

With 14 minutes of the match left, there was a huge cheer as winger Sean Lamont, who had raised more than £7,200 from dying his hair blond in his final match before his retirement, came onto the field.

A Lamont break led to him being not released in the tackle which saw Russell miss an easy penalty.

Edinburgh clinched the game ten seconds from time when Bryce touched down and Weir converted.