Bonus-point win over Lions cements Sean Everitt’s side at top of URC table
Hector Patterson dazzled under the lights as Edinburgh equalled their best start to the season in 11 years by beating the Lions 31-10 at Hive Stadium.
The bonus-point victory ensures the capital side will remain top of the United Rugby Championship regardless of other results over the weekend. This was their fourth URC win in a row and the last time they began a campaign like this was under Alan Solomons in 2015.
It was an impressive performance by Edinburgh in difficult conditions and in Patterson they had the game's outstanding player. The scrum-half signed a new contract this week and celebrated with a try double and a performance which showcased why he is such an exciting prospect.
He was quick, alert and a danger every time he touched the ball. He has now scored five tries in only nine senior games for Edinburgh. Will he be in Gregor Townsend’s Scotland squad on Monday? It will be hard to leave him out.
It rained all day in Edinburgh and it was the hosts who dealt better with the slippery ball. They moved it at pace on a night when the club’s young talent really stood up. Liam McConnell, Mosese Tuipulotu and the Currie brothers, Matt and Tom, all had fine games. Tuipulotu and Matt Currie both bagged a try and there was also one for Geordie Gwynn.
The only negative for the home team was that Duhan van der Merwe lasted only 18 minutes of his comeback. The winger had to go off with a hand laceration.
It was a difficult and emotional night for the Lions whose late Lions forward Hyron Andrews was recognised in the fifth minute when those inside Hive Stadium stood and applauded in tribute to the player whose death last week shocked the rugby world. The South African team wanted to play to honour Andrews’ memory and their commitment to the cause was demonstrated by another vigorous performance.
Van der Merwe was playing his first Edinburgh game since May 15 and there had been an early glimpse of what he can do when he wriggled inside in the 13th minute and tried to offload to Pierre Schoeman. But five minutes later his game was over, with Harry Paterson coming on to replace him.
The change didn’t upset Edinburgh unduly and they took the lead soon after with a well worked try by Matt Currie. The centre was put into space by a disguised pass from Magnus Bradbury and sped down the left wing before a quick one-two with Hector Patterson allowed Currie to dot down in the corner.
The Lions cut the home side’s lead to 5-3 when Chris Smith kicked a penalty after Schoeman had been pinged. Edinburgh, meanwhile, decided not to take the points when they were awarded a penalty, preferring instead to kick to the corner. It came to nought and Edinburgh ended the half on the defensive but they did go in at the break with a slender 5-3 lead.
If the first half had been cagey, the second period began in explosive fashion for the hosts. They scored two tries and had another disallowed in the first 11 minutes, stretching their lead to 19-3.
Tuipulotu was in the thick of it. He finished off a great move involving Tom Currie, Glen Young and Hector Patterson only to have the score chalked off for a knock-on in the build-up by Ollie Blyth-Lafferty.
But Tuipulotu wasn’t to be denied and scored a legitimate try five minutes later. Ewan Ashman did well to pop the ball back after a lineout and Hector Patterson latched on to it before feeding Tuipulotu who showed impressive strength to force his way over.
Edinburgh’s third try quickly followed. It was sparked by a break from Piers O’Conor who found Gywnn in space. The ball was moved quickly to Harry Paterson who passed it on to his near namesake Hector who splashed his way over. Grayson converted both.
The Lions needed a route back into the game and they got in the 57th minute when flanker Batho Hlekani scored after a period of pressure, with Smith converting.
If this was a test of Edinburgh’s character, the reinvigorated hosts answered emphatically. Two more tries in the final quarter took the game beyond their hosts and added a little gloss to what was a gutsy performance.
Hector Patterson was the sharpest player on the pitch and showed it with his second try, taking a quick tap penalty and darting over to secure the bonus point. Gwynn then added the coup de grace, finishing off a fine move involving Liam McConnell, Tuipulotu and Harry Paterson. Grayson converted and Edinburgh saw out the remaining minutes to keep their place at the URC’s summit.