The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Edinburgh twotry hero Burleigh targeting rivals Glasgow
Edinburgh in confident mood ahead of 1872 Cup first leg
Phil Burleigh propelled Edinburgh towards a European Challenge Cup quarter final slot – then declared: “Glasgow beware!”
The midfielder grabbed a try-double to rout the exiles at Murrayfield and immediately set his sights on inflicting a similar fate on the Warriors on the same pitch.
The old rivals clash in the opening Pro14 festive derby at the national stadium a week on Saturday.
He said: “The boys are piling up the points at the moment and confidence is high. The aim is to keep that going for the Glasgow match – they are the ones we really want to beat.”
Edinburgh certainly have an easier build-up to the 1872 Cup first leg.
They should comfortably beat Russian minnows Krazny Yar next weekend at Myreside while Warriors face a demanding revenge mission to France to face Montpellier.
Burleigh added: “It is still pretty early in the season and we are under no illusions about the demands ahead. Glasgow will be a true test, but we are playing good rugby with a lot of skill. Warriors have won all their league games and they are our focus.”
Burleigh believes new coach Richard Cockerill has transformed the capital side since he arrived in the summer.
He stated: “Cockers started by toughening us up and we have build a really strong team culture.
“I always knew the potential was there – it was just a case of finding a way to let it come to the surface.”
Cockerill said: “It was all very positive. We’re slowly building our game and though we scored some excellent tries, we also showed a lot of character when London Irish were camped on our line. We had a scrum fest it was good to see we found a way out of it.”
Hooker Stuart McInally launched the spree with a try in the wake of a wellcontrolled rolling maul.
Blair Kinghorn’s chip was then perfectly weighted for him to win the race for No2.
Man-of-the-match Burleigh pounced for the next two scores.
Edinburgh maintained the momentum after the restart and a trademark sniping try from Hidalgo-Clyne took them out of reach.
Darcy Graham, Junior Rasolea and Sean Kennedy bagged the others.
Meanwhile Ollie Thorley scored a try in each half as Gloucester came from behind to claim a 33-26 bonus-point win over Zebre in European Challenge Cup Pool Three.
Newcastle secured a bonus point before half-time as they overcame an early tussle to power past Bordeaux Begles 52-24 at Kingston Park in Pool One.
Sale claimed their first win after they toppled Pool Two leaders Cardiff Blues 24-0, while Worcester defeated winless Oyonnax 35-14 to move top of Pool Five and Connacht beat Brive 38-31.