Connacht scrape past Edinburgh
Edinburgh 13 Connacht 16
The rolling maul that led to the defeat of Scotland in their RBS 6 Nations game with Ireland came back to haunt Murrayfield.
Edinburgh had dragged themselves back into equality and looked poised for victory when Connacht mauled over 20 metres and produced the penalty, kicked by veteran Eric Elwood, to secure victory.
Edinburgh made hard work of an important win as they seek a top-four finish in the Celtic League.
They looked to send the ball wide at every turn and this nearly cost them dear.
Looking for their fifth successive Celtic League win to take them on their way to a home draw in the Celtic Cup, Edinburgh were quickly into their stride.
Simon Webster, the only one of last week’s successful Scottish side to be involved, made an early break but although he was well supported the ball was turned over in the ruck.
Webster was involved 10 minutes later in the build-up to Connacht’s opening score.
Swift passing by Todd Blackadder set him free up centre field but he knocked on at halfway when tackled.
From the scrum, visiting scrum-half Chris Keane dashed to the Edinburgh 22 where a penalty was awarded and kicked by Elwood
The wind was restored to Edinburgh’s sails when centre Ben McDougall’s sheer power burst a double tackle but his support was missing.
The pressure was kept on with Marcus Di Rollo and Brendan Laney testing Connacht’s defence.
But a turnover deep in Irish territory was slipped to the left wing and the move ended at the other end with number eight John O’Sullivan kicking ahead and left winger Dave Slemen getting first to the ball for the try which Elwood converted.
Edinburgh immediately went back on to the attack and a grubber kick from McDougall put the Connacht defence in trouble.
They had to produce two successive five-yard scrums and the second brought a penalty when the home side looked set for a try.
Edinburgh took the penalty as a scrum and the move broke down when possession was lost.
Two minutes into injury time, when another penalty was awarded Phil Godman put it wide and they went in trailing 10-0.
The pause failed to erase the over-eagerness from Edinburgh’s play.
After 43 minutes Phil Godman’s pass was intercepted, with Ally Kellock subsequently red-carded and Elwood kicking the penalty.
But five minutes later Edinburgh pulled back seven points. Laney entered the line to start a long phase of passing and then set up Craig Smith to score.
Godman kicked the conversion and a straight forward penalty seven minutes later.
With fourteen minutes left a Laney penalty tied the scores but Elwood had the last word.
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