UP, UP AND AWAY
Cockerill’s men give him a birthday boost as Tyneside win puts qualification in sight
RICHARD Cockerill was handed the perfect birthday present yesterday when his Edinburgh side tore Newcastle apart to leave qualification for the Champions Cup knock-out stage within reach.
Cockerill spoke of his immense pride after watching his side turn around an 8-6 half-time deficit with 15 unanswered second-half points to secure what was a first away win in eight, long months.
With just two matches remaining in the group stage, Edinburgh sit on top of Pool 5. It is a remarkable achievement given how they were written off by most observers at the outset of the campaign.
Tries from centre James Johnstone and winger Duhan van der Merwe in a scintillating final 40 minutes saw them win at a canter. The remainder of the points came from the reliable boot of fly-half Jaco van der Walt.
‘I had even forgotten it was my birthday because of that win, which was terrific. I am too old for birthdays!’ said Cockerill, now 48 years young.
‘It was a great result for us. We had not won away from home in eight months, extending back into last season, which made this victory even more pleasing.
‘We had a plan, we stuck to the task and, over 80 minutes, were the better team.
‘Credit to the players and the support. We had Edinburgh fans cheering for us away from home, which is the first time in a long time. I am very proud to be the Edinburgh coach tonight.’
Cockerill insisted there remains work to be done if the qualification dream is to be achieved. But at least knowing it is in their own hands is a major boost to confidence.
‘We have to go to Toulon next month, which will be a massive ask for us, and then it’s Montpellier at Murrayfield in our final game. It could all come down to that final match,’ he said.
‘I hope Toulon might give up on qualifying now they are out of the running and concentrate on the league but, whatever they do, what a great experience it will be for our boys to go there top of the group.
‘Look, we are Edinburgh and we are going well. Good things happen if you work hard and good things are happening to us just now.’
Other than a brief period early on, this was a match Edinburgh bossed and they deserved to run out relatively easy winners.
Openside flanker Hamish Watson was superb — easily out-playing his opposite number and fellow Scotland international John Hardie. Full-back Blair Kinghorn came into the line as often as possible and was defensively sound.
The home side took the lead after 18 minutes through great play by the Newcastle wingers. Vereniki Goneva evaded an attempted tap tackle by his Fijian international team-mate Viliame Mata near the touchline.
He managed to sprint away and fed Sinoti Sinoti, who had come off the other wing to take his pass, and the Kiwi scored despite the efforts of Chris Dean to stop him.
Four minutes later, Edinburgh put their first points on the board through a penalty from Van der Walt but, 13 minutes before the break, Toby Flood increased the home side’s lead with a penalty from in front of the posts.
Newcastle were fortunate to escape conceding a penalty try after persistent offences on their own line but they were then penalised for being offside, which allowed Van der Walt to cut the deficit to two points. Another penalty took the score to 8-6 to Newcastle at the break.
The second half belonged to Edinburgh. After two minutes of the restart, Henry Pyrgos saw acres of space behind the home defence and put over a chip kick.
It was more speculative than pinpoint but Johnstone made the most of it. It was a hard ball to take but after juggling it from hand to hand he managed to gather and touch down. Van der Walt put over the easy extras.
Dean was stopped by Simon Hammersley with a last-gasp tackle as the visitors started to turn the screw even more. On the hour mark, Van der Walt put over another penalty. Seven minutes from time came the moment that secured victory for Edinburgh. Pyrgos got the ball back from his box kick after Sinoti dropped it under pressure. He put in a delicious long pass that found Johnstone, who played it out to Kinghorn. He, in turn, fed Van der Merwe out on the wing. The South African still had a lot to do, and not much space to do it in, but managed to evade attempted touchline tackles from Harris and Hammersley to score.
It was the crucial try of a game Edinburgh deserved to win after such a magnificent second-half performance.
And even Newcastle head coach Dean Richards had no complaints about the final scoreline, admitting: ‘I thought Edinburgh were good on the day and deserved their victory.
‘We cut them open quite easily but we couldn’t finish them off. When they had chances, they took them.
‘If you don’t convert your chances, then you don’t deserve to win, which was the case with us. Edinburgh were better.’
NEWCASTLE FALCONS — Try: Sinoti. Pen: Flood. EDINBURGH — Tries: Johnstone, Van der Merwe. Con: Van der Walt. Pens: Van der Walt (3).