CAPITAL GAINS
Jason White on what we learned from a thrilling 1872 Cup clash
GLASGOW fly-half Adam Hastings had boasted beforehand he fancied his team to take a full 10 points from back-to-back fixtures against Edinburgh.
He was made to eat his words in the most embarrassing fashion as his two horrific errors cost his side two tries — 10 vital points — in an emphatic Edinburgh victory.
The other 13 points for the home side all came from the boot of Jaco van der Walt in one of the most one-sided derby matches in years.
Hastings had two telegraphed passes intercepted under no real pressure — one in each half and both times by winger Duhan van der Merwe — who ran in to score.
Straight after he gifted the second try on the hour mark, Hastings was taken off to end his agony.
It was a day to forget for the fly-half and Glasgow who were outplayed from start to finish by an Edinburgh side that kept their 100 per cent home record intact.
Although Van der Merwe grabbed the glory, it was Henry Pyrgos who was the unsung hero for the home side. His game management was superb and his kicking put the hosts in the right attacking areas.
Up front, flanker Hamish Watson was a real nuisance at the breakdown with captain Stuart McInally putting in a great shift at hooker.
Richard Cockerill’s side were never in trouble and had Glasgow pinned back for the first eight minutes to the extent that Warriors had to make 34 tackles to just two by Edinburgh.
Something had to give and a Van der Walt score after Rob Harley conceded a penalty gave the home side the early lead.
In the 14th minute, they increased it after the first mistake by Hastings, who gifted them their first try. He took the ball close to contact to try to play a short pass to Nick Grigg.
It was so telegraphed that Van der Merwe intercepted and ran in to score from 80 metres out with only Stuart Hogg getting anywhere close to stopping him.
Television replays suggested the Edinburgh winger may have had a foot in touch when he crossed the whitewash but referee Mike Adamson didn’t refer the matter to the TMO.
Although the conversion was from out near the touchline, Van der Walt put over an inch-perfect kick.
Edinburgh went further ahead on 20 minutes with another penalty from the fly-half after Adam Ashe was caught offside.
Glasgow winger DTH van der Merwe was lucky not to get a yellow card when he appeared to take Darcy Graham out in the air.
The visitors, apart from a break from deep by Hogg on the half-hour mark, were spending most of their time defending.
Things started to change slightly when Hastings nearly found Tommy Seymour with a cross-kick that saw Blair Kinghorn get the bounce of the ball to save the day for the home side.
Four minutes before the break, Glasgow got their only try thanks to quick thinking from the Horne brothers that came very much against the run of play. George Horne put a smart and accurate chip kick over the Edinburgh defence that his older brother Peter caught on the run and grounded. Hastings put over the conversion.
It meant that Glasgow were only six points behind at the break, which flattered them as they had hardly had any ball.
Their late first-half try meant the visitors started the second period with a spring in their steps after not being behind as much as they should have been.
They were sharper and playing at a much higher pace than they had in the first which, in truth, wasn’t that difficult.
However, they lacked composure near the try line with Hastings the main culprit as he tried to be clever with a pass from behind his back to Van der Merwe that went straight into touch.
Warriors were made to pay when Van der Merwe set off up the wing moments later as the pendulum swung back towards Edinburgh. The big South African found centre James Johnstone, who took the ball on before being stopped by Hogg.
Just as Pyrgos was going to get the ball away, Callum Gibbins came in from an offside position to stop him and picked up a yellow card. Van der Walt put over the penalty.
On the hour mark, Hastings had another moment to forget. A dreadful attempted pass meant for Peter Horne was easily intercepted by Van der Merwe.
Like he did for his first try, he set off from deep, this time evading Hastings to score from 70 metres out. Van der Walt’s conversion gave the home side a 16-point cushion.
Glasgow looked better with Peter Horne moving from centre to fly-half in place of Hastings and it was his kick that was nearly gathered by replacement Huw Jones near the Edinburgh try line. Jones almost scored with three minutes left but knocked on.
For Edinburgh, it was a moraleboosting win but Glasgow will be going all out for revenge in the reverse fixture next weekend.
SCORERS; Edinburgh — Tries: Van der Merwe (2). Cons: Van der Walt (2). Pens: Van der Walt (3). Glasgow — Try: Horne. Con: Hastings. Referee: Mike Adamson (Scotland).