Magners League Official Website : Gunners claim bonus point win

Gunners claim bonus point win

Edinburgh Gunners	30 - 25	Border Reivers
Murrayfield Att: 3,818
Referee: Malcolm Changleng
Monday 26th December 2005, 15:00

An injury time try from Chris Cusiter was not enough to deny Gunners a bonus point victory whilst Reivers failed in their quest to 'do the double' over their hosts.

Edinburgh looked the hungrier outfit during the scrappy opening sparring session but their promising build-up work was spoiled by impatience and too many unforced errors.

Flanker Ally Hogg set up the first chance by snaffling a loose ball in the wake of a line-out. They earned a penalty in a kickable position, but scrum-half Mike Blair took the quick tap and was blocked.

Referee Malcolm Changleng ruled that the challenge had been too hasty and advanced the award 10 metres. Again the Gunners spurned the kick at goal and opted for a line-out close to the corner.

The the opportunity was wasted when the Borders were given a penalty for the throw being delayed.
The reprieve heartened the visitors and they embarked on a series of raids at the other end, with veteran stand-off Gregor Townsend testing the defence by launching a variety of moves. Good work from flanker Scott Gray and winger Simon Danielli put fresh pressure on Edinburgh and after Semo Sititi was bundled out of play just a stride from the target, Charlie Hore edged them in front with a straight forward penalty for offside. Scott Murray and Peter Jorgensen combined in slick fashion to feed Marcus Di Rollo, lurking on the right wing. Di Rollo turned on the pace to outstrip his markers and cruised to the line from 30 metres. It took the Reivers less than three minutes to strike back when Samoan lock Opeta Palepoi plunged over for the touchdown.
In the second half Hogg barged through two challenges to plough his way to the line with Paterson adding the conversion.
Hore repaired some of the damage by slotting his second penalty, but Edinburgh snatched back the momentum with another great touchdown from Jorgensen. Again Paterson banged over the kick to give his side useful breathing space going into the final stages.
He boosted them further with a straight forward penalty, only to see the Reivers burst back into the picture with an outrageous try.

Townsend's deft chip seemed to be covered by the home defence, but when the ball rebounded from the post they were completely wrong-footed and Hore gleefully scooped it up to put it down and give himself a formality of a conversion.
Paterson eased the jitters at the other end with his second penalty - then Ally Kellock spiralled over to make sure of the all-important bonus point.
However, Reivers refused to buckle and they salvaged a consolation point when Chris Cusiter nipped over for a last-gasp try, goaled by Hore.

Edinburgh Gunners

Border Reivers

Pos

Player

Pos

Replacements

Francisco Leonelli Morey

Calum MacRae

Penalty Tries

First half timeline
16	Border Reivers	Penalty kick - C Hore
33	Edinburgh Gunners	Try - M Di Rollo
38	Border Reivers	Try - O Palepoi
40	Edinburgh Gunners	Substitution - F Leonelli Morey on for S Webster
Second half timeline
41	Edinburgh Gunners	Substitution - A Dickinson on for A Jacobsen
47	Edinburgh Gunners	Try - A Hogg
47	Edinburgh Gunners	Conversion - C Paterson
48	Border Reivers	Penalty kick - C Hore
53	Border Reivers	Substitution - A Miller on for S Gray
57	Edinburgh Gunners	Try - P Jorgensen
57	Edinburgh Gunners	Conversion - C Paterson
60	Border Reivers	Substitution - C Stewart on for S Macleod
61	Edinburgh Gunners	Penalty kick - C Paterson
63	Border Reivers	Substitution - T McGee on for P Thomson
63	Border Reivers	Substitution - A Rennick on for S Sititi
65	Edinburgh Gunners	Substitution - R Lawson on for M Blair
67	Border Reivers	Try - C Hore
67	Border Reivers	Conversion - C Hore
68	Border Reivers	Substitution - C MacRae on for G Townsend
68	Edinburgh Gunners	Substitution - A Strokosch on for S Taylor
68	Edinburgh Gunners	Substitution - A MacDonald on for S Cross
73	Edinburgh Gunners	Substitution - M Dey on for P Jorgensen
76	Edinburgh Gunners	Substitution - A Kelly on for D Hall
79	Border Reivers	Yellow card - A Miller
80	Edinburgh Gunners	Penalty kick - C Paterson
80 +1	Edinburgh Gunners	Try - A Kellock
80 +4	Border Reivers	Try - C Cusiter
80 +4	Border Reivers	Conversion - C Hore