The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Edinburgh in winning start to Euro campaign
CHALLENGE CUP: Solomons’ men in control, but chance for bonus point missed
Edinburgh surged to another great Euro victory, but blew their quest to claim a full haul of Challenge Cup points.
Alan Solomons’ troops were in total control at storm-lashed Murrayfield, but their finishing couldn’t match their slick build-up work.
They now head for France in the hope of picking up a precious away win at the expense of Agen.
Edinburgh had made an urgent start, underlining their confidence by spurning an early pot at goal.
The gamble paid dividends as they created a try from the maul following the line-out in the danger zone.
It was flanker Cornell Du Preez who was in the right place at the right time to wheel over.
Sammy Hidalgo-Clyne then had to backtrack quickly to stave off a Grenoble breakaway score as they responded with powerful intent.
Having survived the scare, Edinburgh set up another pack-drive opportunity, only for Ross Ford’s throw to go astray in the gusty conditions.
The remainder of the half was scrappy and disjointed, with the weather preventing fluent handling play.
Visiting forward Fabien Alexandre was yellow carded for a shoulder-only challenge.
And Edinburgh turned round 11 points to the good as Hidalgo-Clyne atoned for his conversion miss by banging over two penalties.
Edinburgh maintained their momentum following the restart, particularly in the scrum, where the became even more dominant.
Hidalgo-Clyne completed his penalty treble to create more breathing space.
However, the fans were looking for tries and a bonus point.
Grenoble clawed back three points with a James Hart penalty.
Then as the action became more urgent, the hosts squandered a great opportunity when Dougie Fife’s pass failed to find Will Helu.
Edinburgh surged across the line again, but couldn’t ground the ball.
The Frenchmen were lucky not to give away a penalty try when they were shoved into their own scoring zone twice in quick succession.
Justice was done, however, as referee Ben Whitehouse awarded the Gunners a seven-pointer.
Grenoble refused to buckle and they snapped up a breakaway try through Daniel Kilioni, goaled bt Gilles Bosch.
But Du Preez notched his double to fend off a meaningful fightback, Greig Tonks converting.
Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers got their European Rugby Champions Cup campaign off to a flying start with a fourtry demolition of French champions Stade Francais. The Tigers fought back from 8-0 down to get a bonus point 33-20 home win.
Edinburgh: Fife, Hoyland, Helu, Scott, Brown, Tonks, Hidalgo-Clyne, Dickinson, Ford, Nel, Bresler, A. Toolis, Coman, J Hardie, Du Preez.
Replacements: Cochrane, Sutherland, Andress, Manu, Watson, Kennedy, Kinghorn, Dean.
Att: 3,264.