Report: Edinburgh Rugby win U18 Intercity Derby

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Edinburgh celebrate after scoring a first half try during an under-18's 1872 Cup match between Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors at the DAM Health Stadium, on February 05, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

It was a fabulous day for rugby as Glasgow kicked off towards the Riverside Stand at DAM Health Stadium in the sun.

And it was the Warriors who had much of the opening possession. After attacking down the left, a long pass was nearly intercepted but fell to Sam Leweni, who rounded the last defender and scored in the corner.

After more Glasgow pressure that couldn’t yield a try, Edinburgh looked like scoring from their first real attack, as Eddie Murray gathered the ball on the left and chipped through, but the bouncing ball couldn’t be gathered cleanly and was knocked on over the line.

Edinburgh did get their first points on the board via a penalty, after Glasgow were penalised for not rolling away in front of their posts. Jack Brown slotted the kick to bring Edinburgh within two points.

And minutes later Edinburgh had their first try. The ball was played towards the right side to Oliver Duncan, who made the line break and passed inside to Hector Patterson who finished it off. Jack Brown converted from in front of the sticks.

Half time: Edinburgh Rugby U18 10-5 Glasgow Warriors U18

Glasgow pulled level early in the second half, with Sam Leweni getting his second score of the game. This time on the right, the full back evaded his opposite man with his pace and dived over in the corner.

But Edinburgh soon regained the lead with their second try. After Freddy Douglas won a penalty at the breakdown and it was kicked to the corner, a driving maul brought Fergus Bell to the line. Jack Brown brilliantly slotted the conversion from the right touchline.

Glasgow then hit back with their third try. The ball was worked from right to left and Joe Roberts ran the ball into the corner from just under 20 metres. The conversion was slotted from the left touchline by Andrew Storie.

The second half was really heating up, and Edinburgh took the lead once more with their third try. After a spell in Glasgow’s 22, Eddie Murray called for the ball on the left touchline and just squeezed over before the defenders could force him into touch. Another excellent conversion from Jack Brown gave Edinburgh a seven point advantage.

Glasgow got some territory of their own, and Euan Lee managed to get himself over the line with a minute to go, but he was held up.

Glasgow pushed once more but Edinburgh held on to win the intercity derby.

Full time: Edinburgh Rugby U18 24-17 Glasgow Warriors U18

Edinburgh Rugby U18: 1. Ben White 2. Euan McGeoch 3. Ollie Blyth-Lafferty 4. Joss Arnold 5. Christian Lindsay 6. Fergus Wood 7. Freddy Douglas 8. Oliver Duncan 9. Hector Patterson 10. Isaac Coates 11. Eddie Murray 12. Jack Hocking 13. Thomas Russell 14. Nairn Moncrieff 15. Jack Brown

Substitutes: 16. Fergus Bell 17. Angus McGregor 18. Finlay McIntosh 19. Oliver Furness 20. Lachlan Graham 21. Glen Crawford 22. Hugo Alderson 23. Benjamin Roger 24. Chris Thomson 25. Henry Thomas 26. Caleb Thomson

Glasgow Warriors U18: 1. Ollie Bowden 2. Seb Stephen 3. Jake Shearer 4. Lewis Fergusson 5. Ben Nehring 6. Nick Torkington 7. Craig Nolan 8. Finn Spurway 9. Stewart Black 10. Matthew Urwin 11. Fergus Watson 12. Joe Townshend 13. Johnny Ventisei 14. Jack Craig 15. Sam Leweni

Substitutes: 16. Joe Roberts 17. Euan Lee 18. Mickey Kesson 19. Mackenzie Timmins 20. Pat Spence 21. Robbie Baird 22. Andrew Storie 23. Yeadon Davie 24. Theo Natiri 25. Ben Morriss