Edinburgh see off gutsy Borders

FIRED-UP Edinburgh kept in touch at the top of the Magners League with a comfortable win over basement Borders at blustery Murrayfield.

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 the injury-ravaged Borders were forced on to the back foot.

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

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 within a metre before Allan Jacobsen pounced to plunge over and Paterson defied a fiercely gusting wind to slot the conversion.

The Borders finally broke their points duck straight from the restart through a Calum MacRae penalty.

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.

Edinburgh scorers: Tries: Jacobsen, Cairns. Cons: Paterson 2. Pens: Paterson.

EDINBURGH: Southwell, Paterson, Di Rollo, Easson, Cairns, Godman, Blair, Jacobsen, Hall, Dickinson, Mustchin, Murray, Strokosch, Taylor, Callam.

Replacements: Lopez Fleming for Southwell (40), Senio for Blair (61), Rennie for Strokosch (59).

Borders scorers: Pens: MacRae.

BORDERS: MacRae, Daniel, Rennie, De Luca, Law, Jones, McKerchar, Kerr, Ford, Douglas, Hamilton, Palepoi, Dalziel, Gray, Brown.

Replacements: Townsend for Daniel (69), C. Cusiter for McKerchar (70), Grant for Kerr (69), Scott for Ford (74), Kalman for Douglas (54), Grimes for Hamilton (58), Miller for Gray (61).