Following a 33-14 win for Glasgow Warriors against Edinburgh in the 1872 Cup first leg, here’s our five takeaways from the United Rugby Championship (URC) clash.
The top line
It is advantage Glasgow after the first of two games in the 1872 Cup over this festive period. The Warriors scored five tries in this impressive bonus-point success.
Johnny Matthews scored twice while Huw Jones, Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie also crossed as Edinburgh lost at Hampden Park, with Franco Smith’s men dominant.
Edinburgh will at least take some pride from how they battled until the final whistle with two tries on the board to avoid a nilling but in truth they were well beaten.
The result leaves Glasgow in second place, six points behind leaders Leinster, and they will more than fancy their chances at Murrayfield in next week’s second leg.
Johnny Matthews can’t stop scoring
Is there a more lethal try-scoring hooker in world rugby? Two more tries from the Glasgow front-rower as he continues to bang on the door for greater recognition at international level. Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend must surely be feeling the heat to push him up his pecking order in the upcoming Six Nations.
Matthews’ double means he has now scored four tries in his last three games against Edinburgh as two maul crossings in the first 40 helped his side to the victory.
Unfortunately he appeared to injure himself in the act of scoring his first score and limped off in the second period so hopefully that issue is nothing too serious.
Hampden Park move a huge success
Credit to Glasgow for looking to take every last drop from this opening 1872 Cup match as their move from Scotstoun to Hampden Park for this URC derby clash paid off. 27,000 supporters were in attendance to watch the home side come out on top as three first-half tries were added to by two in the second period.
It was a great occasion for the home supporters in Glasgow and hopefully some new fans were gained along the way as this Hampden Park move proved a success.
Hollie Davidson continues to impress
The referee’s stock continues to rise and this latest performance was top quality once again as she was clear, firm and did not shy away from punishing the players.
Too often we see sides get away with offences after warnings but Davidson displayed no weakness in that area, notably sending Edinburgh’s Marshall Sykes to the bin after his high tackle came on the back of repeated penalties. That is what coaches and fans want and it ultimately makes for a faster, more entertaining contest.
She was also swift in all of her decision-making and checks with her TMO and, in a URC round when some referees were criticised, Davidson receives only praise.
What next for Edinburgh?
Despite it being Duhan van der Merwe’s 100th game for the club, it was a milestone he would like to forget as Edinburgh were massively out of sorts on Sunday.
They have it all to do in the second leg of the 1872 Cup next Saturday if they are to overturn this 19-point deficit, which looks highly unlikely after today’s effort.
Not firing a shot until the 74th minute with the likes of Van der Merwe and Darcy Graham in action and other Scotland internationals in the side is a concern.
