Paterson’s effort earned Edinburgh a loser’s bonus point, but even that meagre consolation flattered their contribution to the game.
The capital side had swithered between hopelessness and wretchedness for the previous 80 minutes and deserved to lose by much more. For as close as the teams might have been on the scoreboard, Glasgow were miles better on the field.
Critically, they played far smarter and more efficient rugby than their hosts, squeezing out points when it mattered. Even when Edinburgh nibbled into their lead, Glasgow, who returned to the top of the Magners League with the win, never looked anything less than comfortable.
Their most significant and telling advantage was at fly-half, where Dan Parks outplayed Phil Godman to an almost embarrassing extent. Scotland coach Andy Robinson made it clear that Parks has in recent weeks returned to the reckoning for a Test place and the Glasgow playmaker all but ripped the international shirt off Godman’s back with his astute control of the game. When Godman was taken off in the 56th minute, his body language told a story of utter dejection.
It was less unexpected that Chris Cusiter should get the better of Ross Samson at scrum-half. Samson had been drafted in at the last minute after Greig Laidlaw was ruled out due to a virus and he was taught a rugby lesson by the Scotland captain. Samson hardly helped himself by taking a couple of rash tap penalties. A calmer head, or the calmer boot of Paterson, could have made more of those moments.
Glasgow were also well served by their back row, where Kelly Brown made a massive contribution. If Parks has returned to the Test frame over the past couple of weeks, then Brown cannot be far behind him.
Richie Vernon dipped a little from the level of excellence he reached in the 1872 Cup’s first leg a week ago – in which Glasgow beat the holders 25-12 – but put in a conspicuously effective shift.
Glasgow even managed to absorb the loss of two players to the sin bin without taking significant damage on the scoreboard. DTH Van der Merwe was yellow-carded for a clumsy mid-air challenge on Mark Robertson in the 21st minute,.
Al Kellock received the same punishment for illegal interference with Edinburgh possession at a ruck shortly before half time. The total cost of their visits to the sidelines was just six points, something Glasgow could accommodate easily.
Robertson’s most notable contribution to the build-up had been his declaration that it was inconceivable that Edinburgh would fail to score a try.
It was a rash prediction given they had not registered a touchdown in their three previous games and they duly extended that streak to four. To some extent, Glasgow’s tenacity in defence contributed to Edinburgh’s blank sheet, but the hosts’ error-strewn display was a hugely significant factor as well.
To rub some salty ignominy into Edinburgh’s wounds, Glasgow also made far more of the wide inter-national pitch than they could, with Parks exploiting every available inch as they collected their two tries.
For the first, after 13 minutes, he followed up a Graeme Morrison break by prodding a clever grubber kick to the left corner for Van der Merwe to collect the points.
The second, with 49 minutes on the clock, saw Parks hoist a magnificent cross-field kick, which Bernardo Stortoni touched down, with Godman wrapped round him in something that looked more like a congratulatory hug than a tackle attempt.
Parks also kicked three penalties and a dropped goal. Paterson claimed all Edinburgh’s points. Not that he felt like shouting about it at the end.
Edinburgh: C Paterson (captain); M Robertson (N De luca, 50), B Cairns, J Houston, T Visser; P Godman (A Turnbull, 56), R Samson; K Traynor (A Jacobsen, 50), R Ford, G Cross, S MacLeod (C Hamilton, 60), J Hamilton, A MacDonald, R Grant, S Newlands (D Callam, 60; S Crombie, 72)
Glasgow: B Stortoni (R Jackson, 72); DTH Van der Merwe (H O’Hare, 73), M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans; D Parks, C Cusiter (C Gregor, 57); J Welsh (K Tkachuk, 64), D Hall (F Thomson, 63), M Low, A Kellock (captain; D Turner, 57)), R Gray, K Brown, J Barclay, R Vernon (J Beattie, 57)
Referee: P Allan (SRU)
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