Tom Gordon scores twice as Glasgow claim 1872 Cup victory over Edinburgh

Glasgow flanker Tom Gordon scored a double before limping off as Warriors beat Edinburgh 30-17 at Scotstoun.

Gordon twice put Warriors in front before Glen Young and Boan Venter responded.

The crucial moment proved to be a breakaway try from Josh McKay in the 56th minute which saw the home side go on to dominate and move into third place in the United Rugby Championship, as well as taking the lead in the 1872 Cup and strengthening their grip on the Scottish/Italian Shield.

With a total of 15 players from the two sides in Scotland’s 23-man squad for the final Guinness Six Nations clash against Ireland, there was a different feel to the derby, which was rearranged after a Covid-19 outbreak in the Warriors camp put paid to the festive double header.

Both teams were locked on 39 points before the game and were evenly matched until McKay’s try.

Glasgow went for the jugular from the start and might have scored even earlier than their ninth-minute opener.

A stolen line-out and a deliberate knock-on from Edinburgh winger Emiliano Boffelli, who escaped a yellow card, held up Warriors before the combined efforts of Henry Immelman and Matt Currie stopped Cole Forbes going over in the corner.

The breakthrough came from some close-range pressure when Gordon wriggled over.

Glasgow’s failure to deal with Edinburgh’s kick-off ensured they could not build on their lead, which had been extended by Duncan Weir’s conversion. Jack Dempsey let the ball bounce and McKay’s kick was charged down behind the try line, and Young converted the resulting pressure in the 14th minute despite Johnny Matthews’ efforts to hold the ball up.

Warriors got back on top, although they had to be smart to stop Henry Pyrgos scoring on a counter-attack, and it was a mistake from the visitors that led to the third try of the game in the 29th minute.

Jaco Van Der Walt’s kick was flat and short and straight into the hands of Sebastian Cancelliere. The winger fed Stafford McDowall, who set up Gordon to go over after a dummy.

Edinburgh responded well again and McKay did well to hold up Matt Currie after the centre burst through the lines. Edinburgh cut the gap through Boffelli’s penalty, but Weir restored the hosts’ seven-point lead just before the interval.

Edinburgh re-started strongly and benefited from a second penalty in quick succession when Venter went over. Boffelli levelled the scores.

The game turned on Cancelliere picking up a loose ball inside his own half as Edinburgh attacked. The Argentinian winger drove forward and infield knowing that McKay was overlapping and his no-look pass left three Edinburgh players exposed as the full-back ran up the right wing to cross.

Warriors got some more control of the game, with substitute Ross Thompson’s kicking adding eight further points as well as keeping Edinburgh on the back foot.