Report: Edinburgh v Glasgow & the West

GLASGOW, SCOTLAND - MAY 21: Glasgow score a try during the Inter-district Championship finals between Edinburgh and Glasgow & the West at Braidholm, on May 21, 2023, in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Euan Cherry / SNS Group)

Both sides made it clear in the opening blows that they were here to play entertaining rugby, with both attacks happy to keep ball in hand even in their own 22.

After the west coast outfit thought they were in for the opening try only to be halted by a forward pass, it was the Edinburgh district who broke the deadlock in the 8^th minute. Ali Bain made the initial break and found Paul Christie, who was downed just short, but Ryan Stewart reacted first and dived over from a metre out.

Glasgow & the West then set up base in Edinburgh’s 22, and after handling errors cost them on several occasions they got their first try in the 23^rd minute. A scrum 10 metres out saw Glasgow attack down the right through Scott Bickerstaff, and two phases later it was Andrew Acton who crossed from a pick and go.

The West continued to have more of the ball and territory, but couldn’t find the cutting edge to break through. From Edinburgh’s limited possession, they also struggled to find gaps but went into the changing rooms at the break two points up.

Half time: Edinburgh 7-5 Glasgow & the West

With the first attack of the second half, Max McFarlane found space on the right and set Scott Bickerstaff free. The winger looked certain to score but Sinjin Broad wonderfully intervened, tackling the Marr man and dislodging the ball in the process.

Glasgow’s penalty count was costing them, and Edinburgh got their second try in the 52^nd minute. The ball was worked out to the left side, and after the ball squirmed loose from a ruck five metres out, Ian Sim reacted quickest and grabbed the ball to score in the corner.

The West drew level just three minutes later. A penalty inside Edinburgh’s 22 was tapped by Angus Troop who charged towards the line. Two phases later it was Acton again who crashed over next to the left-hand post.

In the 57^th minute, Stuart Allison spotted a gap on the left and sprinted towards the try line from halfway. He was hauled down just short but offloaded to Gregor Nelson who reached the line, but Glasgow & the West’s defence reacted quickly and held him up.

And the West took the lead for the first time in the 62^nd minute. Chris Hyde looked to have been stopped on the left side, but he managed to wriggle free from the tackle and ran round to score next to the posts.

Colin Sturgeon then extended his side’s lead beyond a score, as Glasgow & the West were awarded a penalty from a scrum in the 70^th minute. The replacement fly-half knocked the ball over from just left of the sticks inside the 22.

Full time: Edinburgh 12-22 Glasgow & the West

Player of the Match: Andrew Acton (Glasgow & the West)

TRIES

Edinburgh: Ryan Stewart, Ian Sim
Glasgow & the West: Andrew Acton (2), Chris Hyde

CONVERSIONS

Edinburgh: Jamie Loomes
Glasgow & the West: Colin Sturgeon (2)

PENALTIES

Edinburgh:
Glasgow & the West: Colin Sturgeon

Edinburgh: 15. Charlie Brett 14. Paul Christie 13. Neil Armstrong 12. Greg Cannie 11. Ian Sim 10. Jamie Loomes 9. Sinjin Broad 1. Chris Anderson 2. Ryan Stewart 3. Graeme Carson 4. Ali Bain 5. Ali MacCallum 6. Rhys Davies CAPTAIN 7. Stuart Allison 8. Ruairi Campbell

Replacements: 16. Danny Dineen 17. Cole Imrie 18. John Lascelles 19. Malachy Keough 20. Gregor Nelson 21. Cammy Lassells 22. Ben Heber 23. Innes Hill

Glasgow & the West: 15. James Pinkerton 14. Scott Bickerstaff 13. Max McFarlane 12. Conor Bickerstaff CO-CAPTAIN 11. Sam Graham 10. Gavin Cruickshanks 9. Fergus Johnston 1. Michael Downer 2. Paul Cairncross CO-CAPTAIN 3. Andrew Acton 4. Angus Troop 5. Max Crumlish 6. Ewan Stewart 7. Dario Ewing 8. Fraser Grant

Replacements: 16. Marc Ashdown 17. Dominic Grymkowski 18. David Andrew 19. Luke McCutcheon 20. Ben Frame 21. Colin Sturgeon 22. Ryan Flett 23. Chris Hyde