Glasgow secure bonus-point 1872 Cup win over Edinburgh

Rugby World Cup

Glasgow Warriors (7) 24

Hastings 2 attempts: Fagerson, Darge, Hiddleston, and Stephen

Edinburgh (5) 12

With a bonus-point victory over Edinburgh in the first leg at Hampden, Glasgow Warriors took a significant step toward winning the 1872 Cup for the fourth year in a row.

Warriors led for the majority of the game after Dylan Richardson scored for the visitors in response to Matt Fagerson’s opener, but the Warriors held on for a 7-5 lead at the break.

Rory Darge, Gregor Hiddleston, and Seb Stephen scored tries in the second half, with Grant Gilchrist coming on for the visitors.

Next Saturday’s second leg at Murrayfield will feature a 12-point lead for Franco Smith’s side.

Warriors started off strong, and when Fagerson fired in from close range to break the home side’s maul defense, they were breached.

Only some aggressive Edinburgh work during the breakdown and in defense kept them at bay for the first 25 minutes was all Glasgow.

The visitors then responded with Richardson’s powerful run through some suspect Warriors maul defense on their first meaningful foray into Glasgow territory.

Glasgow was desperate for an immediate response, and they almost certainly did, but Darge and Jack Dempsey were obstructed over the try-line.

As Edinburgh fought back from the bench and despite their first-half dominance, Glasgow were only two points clear at half-time as the hosts continued to batter away, and Max Williamson was the third Warrior to be held up over the line.

After the break, the traffic continued to flow, and Darge put in some pressure to go in under the sticks.

Sione Tuipulotu broke loose with a brilliant break from deep, which had been a true forward-dominated battle. With a cross-field kick, Adam Hastings crudely kicked Jamie Dobie before he was crudely taken out in the air by Ben Vellacott.

The Glasgow pack rumbled over and Hiddleston touched down to give Glasgow two scores before the penalty was kicked to the corner.

Edinburgh finally unleashed a golden opportunity for Darcy Graham to get out wide, but Ollie Smith, who had been outstanding all day, superbly covered to bundle the young winger into touch.

Although replays suggested Gilchrist may have been short of the line when he grounded the ball, the capital side did make matters more interesting when he barreled over to bring his side back within seven.

Replacements: Lancaster, Sutherland, Talakai, Craig, Brown, Miller, Afshar, and Stephen.

Edinburgh: Goosen, Graham, O’Conor, Currie, Van der Merwe, Van der Merwe, Scott, Vellacott, Schoeman, Ashman, O Blyth-Lafferty, Young, Gilchrist, McConnell, Richardson, Bradbury.