A hat-trick of tries by skipper Roddy Grant helped Edinburgh open their season with an impressive win over Romania at The Greenyards last night to boost confidence ahead of their meeting with Ulster at Goldenacre next Friday in the second and last of their two warm-up game.
Grant justifiably was named player of the match and not just for his try scoring contribution. The former Gala player rose to the occasion of playing at the Melrose ground, leading by example with a tireless performance both in attack and defence.
Elsewhere Edinburgh would be pleased with the showing of stand-off Jade Te Rure and young scrum half Murdo McAndrew, albeit head coach, Alan Solomons expects Sean Kennedy to be back in harness for next week’s game.
McAndrew along with several other debutants was brought on to the park during the second half and took his chance to show good skills. “It was important that we gave everyone game time. I thought all the young boys did well.” said Solomons.
Edinburgh were put under pressure in the second half when their second string front row was in opposition to Romania’s strongest front three. But in the event Edinburgh survived and indeed shoved the Romanians backwards in the final scrum of the game.
Romania’s tight tactics brought them the game’s first points with a penalty goal from their centre Florin Vlaicu but Edinburgh quickly struck back, executing a driving maul to perfection for skipper Roddy Grant to score the first of his three tries.
Then after Nick Mclennan had sliced through the defence, Brown and flanker Jamie Ritchie provided the support before the ball was moved left allowing Neil Cochrane to lay on the scoring pass for Cornell Du Preez, Nick Fowles converting for a 12-3 lead.
A second Vlaicu penalty brought Romania back into the game but just before half time Edinburgh again set up a driving maul and once more it was Grant who scored.
Romania brought on their heavier pack for the second half and for the most part dominated the set-scrum, winger Adrian Apostle benefitting from a tight head strike to score in the corner. Dan Dumbrava converted before kicking a penalty goal to bring his side within a point of Edinburgh.
The capital side then pulled away as first Grant set up a try for Te Rure which there stand-off converted and Grant himself completed his hat-trick with a burst from a line-out maul, Te Rure’s conversion completing the scoring.
Scorers Edinburgh Tries Grant (3), Te Rure, Du Preez Cons Fowles, Te Rure (2) Romania Try Apostol Con Dumbrava Pens Dumbrava, Vlaicu (2)
Edinburgh : N McLennan; J Farndale, C Dean, A Strauss, T Brown; P Burleigh, N Fowles; G Shiells, N Cochrane, J Andress, A Bresler, F McKenzie, J Ritchie, R Grant, C Du Preez Replacements used J Hilterbrand, G Turner, J Cosgrove / Allan Dell, S Berghan, A Toolis, M Bradbury, M McAndrew, J Te Rure, S Beard, J Johnstone, O Katoa, J Cuthbert
Romania : S Stralita; F Ionita, P Kinikinilau, F Vlaicu, I Botezatu; M Wiringi, F Surugiu; M Lazar, E Capatana, H Pungea, H Von Heerden, M Drenceamu, O Tonita, M Randall, S Burcea Replacements used O Turashvili, I Paulica, A Radoi, V Ursache, M Macovei, T Bratu, D Dumbrava, C Gal
Referee G Garner (Ireland)
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