However, battling Borders at least did enough to deny their local rivals a bonus point after a dour match.

Edinburgh dominated the opening exchanges as injury-ravaged Reivers were forced on to the back foot.

However, the Murrayfield men were met by some dogged defence from a Borders side who had no intention of lying down to their more fancied rivals.

For all their early pressure, the Gunners had to be content with a single Chris Paterson penalty awarded when the visiting backs strayed offside.

Borders, without crocks Chris Cusiter and Ben MacDougall, responded with a sustained spell of possession.

But crucial handling errors by Craig Hamilton and Bruce Douglas twice let Edinburgh off the hook.

Home hopes were raised when Reivers flanker John Dalziel was sin-binned for a professional foul and the extra man should have counted moments later.

However, with the line in sight, Phil Godman’s wayward pass gave Alasdair Dickinson no chance.

The home side made amends with the opening try in 33 minutes as the Edinburgh forwards drove forward from a lineout.

Alasdair Strokosch got with in a metre before Allan Jacobsen pounced to plunge over and Paterson defied a fiercely gusting wind to slot the conversion.

A further break by Godman had the Reivers reeling again but they were given a reprieve when Strokosch just failed to gather Andrew Easson’s pass.

The Borders finally broke their points duck straight from the restart when a swift attack forced an infringement from which Calum MacRae slotted between the posts.

But the action was soon back at the other end where the Gunners extended their lead through a superb predator’s try from Mark Cairns.

Mike Blair did the spadework with a scurrying break on the blindside before his pass let winger Cairns sprint in under the posts for Paterson to add the extras.

Some astute tactical kicking by Godman kept the Borders pinned in their own half and snuffed-out any hopes of a revival.

However, Edinburgh were denied any more points by a combination of gutsy defending and sloppy handling.