Edinburgh stay top of URC with bonus-point win

Edinburgh made it four wins from four in the BKT URC on Friday night, matching the club’s best start to a season in 11 years.

In conditions that made every pass a gamble, Hector Patterson produced a BKT player of the match display to light up the capital.

The 21-year-old scrum-half signed a new deal this week. He was involved in every Edinburgh try and crossed twice himself, including a brilliant quick-tap score that secured the bonus point, as Sean Everitt’s side pulled clear after a tight first half.

In the fifth minute, Hive Stadium rose as one for a minute’s applause in memory of Hyron Andrews, the 10bet Lions lock who passed away last week. Our thoughts remain with Hyron’s family, friends and everyone at the Lions.

On the pitch, the visitors had the better of the early territory, but Edinburgh’s defence stood firm in the driving rain.

The hosts were dealt a blow on 18 minutes when Duhan van der Merwe, on his return to the side, went off after an aerial contest. Harry Paterson replaced him.

Edinburgh responded within two minutes. Matt Currie broke down the left and fed Patterson, then took the return pass to dot down for the opening try. James Grayson’s conversion from out wide drifted wide, leaving it 5-0.

The Lions got on the board through a Chris Smith penalty on 33 minutes. Edinburgh went looking for more straight from the restart: Ewan Ashman won a turnover penalty, and Grayson kicked to the corner. The visitors held out, though.

The Lions then had a golden chance of their own from a five-metre scrum just before the break. Patterson stopped the drive on the line and the visitors spilled the ball over it, sending Edinburgh in 5-3 up at the interval.

The second half belonged to the hosts. Mosese Tuipulotu thought he had scored inside two minutes, but the TMO spotted a knock-on in the build-up. The centre didn’t have to wait long. Patterson flicked a one-handed pass off the floor and Tuipulotu barrelled through the remaining cover. Grayson converted for 12-3.

Mosese Tuipulotu bursts through to score

The third try, on 50 minutes, was one of the scores of the season so far. Piers O’Conor released Geordie Gwynn down the left, the wing found Harry Paterson on his inside, and Patterson scampered over. Grayson’s boot made it 19-3.

The Lions hit back when flanker Batho Hlekani crossed and Smith converted. Patterson’s answer was decisive. He took a quick-tap penalty 25 metres out, beat a scrambling Lions defence and raced to the right corner for the bonus-point try. Grayson converted from the touchline.

There was another milestone to celebrate, as Marshall Sykes became Edinburgh Rugby’s 47th centurion before Gwynn then put the seal on the night, finishing a flowing move in the left corner to complete a 31-10 win that keeps Edinburgh at the summit of the BKT URC whatever happens elsewhere this weekend.

Geordie Gwynn on his way to scoring in the corner