Edinburgh Rugby ran in 10 tries to win the derby over Glasgow Warriors 63-15 with a bonus point at Hive Stadium on Friday night to open their 2024/25 Celtic Challenge campaign with a bang.
Glasgow started well and were 10-0 up, but then the hosts got into gear and blew them away at times.
The match report…
Glasgow showed they had headed east to get down to business when they scored the opening try after just three minutes.
A cross field kick from scrum-half Mairi McDonald bounced up nicely for winger Sky Phimister and she did the rest to score a try converted by centre Lisa Martin.
Their strong start continued and, in the 13th minute, former Scotland captain Martin kicked a penalty to make it 10-0.
Edinburgh needed something to spark them into life and it came in the 15th minute when vice-captain Hannah Walker came off her wing and burst through the defence to score. Centre Lucy MacRae converted.
Ten minutes later, with Edinburgh now on the front foot, their attack looked like it had broken down. However, stand-off Hannah Ramsay looped a pass left and Walker did the rest. MacRae converted and the hosts were ahead.
In the 30th minute their third try came, a strong lineout drive seeing Walker’s fellow vice-captain Aila Ronald, the hooker, who dotted down.
Edinburgh were flying now and the bonus point fourth try came six minutes before the interval when Scotland cap Lucia Scott went over followed, in the 36th minute, by winger Cieron Bell’s score which was converted by MacRae to make it 31-10.
A MacRae penalty then made it 34-10 at the interval.
The home team assault on the Glasgow try line resumed just after the break and, in the 46th minute, another sweeping break from Walker set up Bell for her second try.
Glasgow got their second try through replacement Erinn Foley in the 52nd minute to leave things at 39-15.
Edinburgh added four more tries though, replacement Shona Campbell scoring in the 56th minute and then Walker, later named player of the match, finished off her hat-trick in the 67th minute.
The final two tries, both converted by MacRae, came from subs Talei Tawake and Faye Sutherland.
What they said…
Edinburgh Rugby head coach Claire Cruikshank: “Early on we were kind of waiting to see what Glasgow were going to do and what they were going to throw at us and, for a spell, e were still back in the changing rooms, weren’t we?
“The first 10 minutes was a little bit worrying, but we grew into it throughout the course of the game. Once we started to secure the ball, that allowed our players to express themselves and show what we can do and we have some good pace in the team. The bench also did well.”
Glasgow Warriors head coach Lindsey Smith: “In the first 10 to 15 minutes we caught Edinburgh off guard.
“After that we maybe got a bit disconnected and they got on to the front foot and we struggled to regain that early strangle hold we had. We’ve got to realise this is a step up. If you’re switching off and not being focused at times at this level them you will get punished.”
Three things that caught the eye…
- Centre spot on: Lucy MacRae of Edinburgh University played for Glasgow in this competition with Glasgow last year, but is now with the capital side. Her all-round display was excellent and she has a good rugby brain on young shoulders.
- Scott the lot: Lucia Scott burst through with Scotland in the September Tests and in the WXV 2 competition and her play from full-back her was excellent, coming into the line at just the right time often and creating space for the wingers.
- Glimpses for Glasgow: This defeat will hurt, but it is a very new squad with 15 of the matchday 23 making debuts here. They need to bottle up the first 15 minutes when they were physical and takin the ball to the line and then build from this point.
What’s next…
Edinburgh will host Welsh side Brython Thunder on Saturday, January 4 at 2pm while, the following day, Glasgow will be in Ulster to face the reigning champion Wolfhounds at 2.30pm.
Teams from this match with substitutions listed…
Edinburgh Rugby: Lucia Scott, Cieron Bell, Holly McIntyre (Shona Campbell 53), Lucy MacRae, Hannah Walker, Hannah Ramsay (Sarah Denholm 50), Rhea Clarke (Giselle Chicot 68); Alison Wilson (Talei Tawake 61), Aila Ronald (Karis Craig 64), Molly Poolman (Hannah McMahon 64), Adelle Ferrie, Natasha Logan (Lucy Christie 64), Merryn Gunderson, Alex Stewart (captain), Samaanther Taganekurukuru (Faye Sutherland 68).
Glasgow Warriors: Roma Fraser, Sky Phimister, Orla Proctor, Lisa Martin (Briar McNamara 42), Grace Deane (Carla McDonald 70), Ceitidh Ainsworth, Mairi McDonald (Mary Nelson 70); Ailie Tucker (captain) (Alex Ward 74), Aicha Sutcliffe (Megan Hyland 53), Katie Lindsay (Poppy Clarkson 70), Holland Bogan, Kate Yeomans (Aisha Zameer 74), Eilidh MacGilvray (Erinn Foley 41), Emily Coubrough, Freya Walker.
Thanks to Bryan Robertson for the image of Hannah Walker on the attack versus Glasgow
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