Edinburgh 18 - 0 Cardiff Blues
HT 10-0
Mon 09 November 19:45 BT Murrayfield Ref: Andrew Brace Guinness PRO14

Edinburgh Rugby 18 Cardiff Blues 0

Thu 1 Oct 2020 12:41 Edinburgh Rugby 18 Cardiff Blues 0

Cardiff Blues left Scotland empty handed as Edinburgh Rugby powered to a scrappy Guinness PRO14 victory in appalling conditions at Murrayfield.

The hosts dominated much of the encounter and lead 10-0 at the break thanks to a Lee-Roy Atalifo try and the boot of Nathan Chamberlain.

Errors hampered the Blues throughout and with dense fog gripping Murryfield in the second-half chaos ensued. 

Edinburgh claimed a second try through David Cherry to stretch their lead to 15-0 and despite a bright final quarter, which could have seen a losing bonus-point secured, John Mulvihill’s side were held at bay.

With both sides missing more than 20 players due to international call-ups and injuries, strength in depth was always going to be tested at Murrayfield but it was Richard Cockerill’s men who coped.

It was Edinburgh’s second win of the season and their first at Murrayfield in six games, while Wales’ Capital Region have now lost three on the bounce, following a promising start to the season.

Edinburgh dominated the opening exchanges on their own patch and while they were met by a typically staunch Cardiff Blues defence that marched them back on several occasions, they opened the scoring on six minutes.

The penalty was awarded after Ally Miller burst off the back of a scrum and Brad Thyer was unable to get back onside as possession was quickly recycled.

Chamberlain slotted the simple penalty and the hosts remained in the driving seat as they won the kicking battle and forced Cardiff into errors.

The Blues were dealt a blow when Will Boyde was forced off following a heavy collision and he failed his HIA, with Sam Moore becoming s permanent fixture.

Edinburgh remained in the ascent despite some heroic defence and the best efforts of Olly Robinson at the breakdown and they stretched their lead on 24 minutes. 

Following a clever kick to the corner and the failure to exit they laid siege in the red zone and following a sustained period of pressure, Lee-Roy Atalifo powered over from close range.

Chamberlain converted the effort and despite a handful of promising attacks in the second quarter, the Blues were unable to open their account. Tovey struck the uprights with ten minutes of the half to go and the score remained 10-0 at the break. 

Cardiff made a bright start to the second half and another penalty earned by Robinson saw Tovey send the ball to the corner. They hammered away at the Scottish line but could not make the final breakthrough and the ball was eventually lost.

Where the visitors were unable to conjure a score, Edinburgh demonstrated a ruthless lesson in finishing as they scored from their first visit into deep territory in the second half. 

Having kicked a penalty to the corner, they rumbled over from the line out with Dave Cherry burrowing over.

With dense fog continuing to fill Murrayfield, the encounter descended into chaos with those in attendance, commentators and viewers at home unable make out ongoing affairs.

As the encounter edged towards the final ten minutes, Edinburgh used for a third try with Mark Bennett going close but several phases later a penalty was secured and Cardiff Blues cleared.

Some good work from Jamie Hill and then Owen Lane gave Mulvihill’s men good attacking position to salvage something from the encounter but the promising line out was overthrown.

That was not to be Cardiff Blues’ last opportunity and some magic from replacement Matthew Morgan created a scoring opportunity. Hallam Amos continued the stunning attack but he was unable to put Jamie Hill way and was then penalised as the opportunity lost.

Edinburgh then rubbed salt into the wounds with a last minute penalty to make it 18-0 in a real pea souper.