Pro 14: Edinburgh 17-10 Connacht

Edinburgh got their first Pro14 victory of the season with a dominant display against Connacht.

Matt Scott went close early on, before Duhan van der Merwe finally crossed in the corner after constant pressure.

Edinburgh could not make the most of their dominance, van der Merwe spurning a great chance before Pierre Schoeman finally got the second score.

Niyi Adeolokun’s try and Jack Carty’s penalty closed the gap late on, but Edinburgh held on to get a first win.

Richard Cockerill had been upbeat about Edinburgh’s performances this season despite opening with two losses. But he would have been wary the effect another defeat might have on the belief built up from last season, particularly with a daunting away trip to champions Leinster up next.

It was hardly the ideal start when impressive fly-half Simon Hickey pulled out in the warm up due to illness. Jaco van der Walt stepped in seamlessly though and got Edinburgh on the front foot straight away.

The South African cut through the Connacht defence after a show and go, found Matt Scott with the pass, but Adeolokun managed to haul the Scotland centre into touch just short of the line.

Edinburgh’s set piece gave them the platform to dominate, earning 80% of the territory in the first quarter. However, a stubborn Connacht defence and some inaccuracy kept the hosts at bay.

But as frustration grew, a typical piece of incisive play from full-back Blair Kinghorn saw him stride through a gap, he teed up Hamish Watson who was brought down five metres short.

Then, as Henry Pyrgos looked to get the ball away from the base of the ruck, Connacht captain Jarrad Butler slapped the ball from his grasp, an offence deemed worthy of a yellow card.

Edinburgh ruthlessly took advantage. Opting to take the scrum rather than the easy three points, they were rewarded a phase later, van der Merwe crossing in the corner, van der Walt adding the extras.

Wasteful Edinburgh

Wave after wave of Edinburgh pressure continued to follow, and only their own profligacy prevented them adding to the score. But a van der Walt penalty provided the only other points of the first period.

Edinburgh’s forward pack was mightily impressive, led by the veracious Watson. But time and again the platform was wasted, in particular when van der Merwe fumbled the ball forward when all he had to do was waltz over the whitewash after van der Walt and Kinghorn set him totally free in the corner.

Fortunately for Edinburgh the second try came minutes later. Yet another penalty was kicked into the corner and almost the entire team piled into the maul which trundled over the line, Pierre Schoeman the man at the base to claim his first score for Edinburgh. The impressive van der Walt knocked over the conversion.

Connacht had barely threatened but managed to hit back through Adeolokun, who gathered Carty’s looping pass. The fly-half nailed the touchline conversion and a late penalty as the Irish side threatened to steal victory, but Edinburgh’s defence held firm.

Edinburgh: Kinghorn; Fife, Johnstone, Scott, Van der Merwe; Van der Walt, Pyrgos; Schoeman, McInally, Nel, Toolis, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Hamilton.

Replacements: Ford, Dell, Berghan, McKenzie, Bradbury, Kennedy, Farndale, Socino.

Connacht: O’Halloran; Adeolokun, Griffin, Godwin, Healy; Carty, Marmion; O’Donnell, Heffernan, Bealham, Thornbury, Dillane, O’Brien, Butler, Boyle.

Replacement: Delahunt, McCabe, Robertson-McCoy, Cannon, Fainga’a, Blade, Ronaldson, Aki.

Content provided by the BBC. Original piece can be found here https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/45516340