Turner proves to be the Warriors saviour as he swoops for Cup victory
GLASGOW WARRIORS 20 EDINBURGH 16
George Turner came out of the sin-bin to snatch the glory for Glasgow last night in a tense and tight 1872 Cup opener.
The contest had looked destined to end in a Scotstoun stalemate.
But, after burst of tries in the closing stages, the Warriors got it right when it counted.
And Turner’s moment of magic by the scrum-half provided the Warriors with a huge confidence boost ahead of the festive return leg at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Despite the late fireworks, the derby tussle was spoiled as a spectacle by card-happy rookie ref Ben Blain.
He brandished five yellows and failed to let the action flow at any stage.
Predictably, the early sparring session was scrappy and mistakeridden as the sides struggled to find some rhythm.
The home men earned the first chance to break the deadlock as Adam Hastings teed up a 25-metre penalty – and he confidently found the target.
Hastings then set up a Glasgow attack with a superb touch finder.
But all the initiative was lost when they were guilty of obstruction.
Edinburgh began to exert pressure in midfield, thanks mainly to stout defending.
And they levelled in the 21st minute with an offside penalty by Simon Hickey from close-range.
A 70-metre strike by Blair
Kinghorn to set up an attacking line out then pinned back the Warriors again.
And only Zander Fagerson’s clever steal saved the day.
Glasgow were then reduced to 14 men when veteran full-back Ruaridh Jackson was yellowcarded for a late and dangerous challenge on Darcy Graham, who was in pursuit of his own chip.
Hickey’s kick crashed back off the far post and back into Edinburgh possession.
But a minute later Hickey made amends from dead in front.
Back came the Warriors in the approach to the interval with a 45-metre effort from Hastings.
There was still time for drama with visiting breakaway Bill Mata being sinbinned for a professional foul and Glasgow being halted a stride short of the line.
Edinburgh suffered another setback just after the restart when Henry Pyrgos was taken off for a concussion check.
Warriors looked likely to make an immediate breakthrough, only for Hamish Watson to foil them with an expert turnover almost under his crossbar.
Glasgow then lost Fraser Brown with a head knock – delivered by his Scotland mate Stuart Mcinally, who was yellow-carded for a shoulder-first hit.
And George Turner – who had replaced Brown – immediately joined Mcinally in the bin for a spoiling offence which led to Hickey restoring his side’s lead.
The casualty toll mounted as home wing Tommy Seymour and visiting lock Ben Toolis departed.
Within seconds, Price clinically finished off a sharp move featuring Hastings and Huw Jones to swing the pendulum in Glasgow’s favour.
Hastings followed up with the conversion.
But the score merely sparked Edinburgh into their most-potent raid – and Kinghorn brushed off three markets to plonk the ball on the deck.
Jaco van der Walt added the extras from a wide angle, only for colleague Nic Groom to be card victim No. 5.
But in a frantic finale, Turner was driven over by his pack.
Hastings’ kick was bang-on.