Hodge in the groove as Edinburgh outgun brave Connacht

ALLY HOGG came through 80 minutes unscathed ahead of next weekend’s RBS 6 Nations opener with England as Edinburgh came out on top against Connacht, with Duncan Hodge making up for an early error with a fine kicking performance.

Hogg was attempting to prove his fitness to Scotland boss Frank Hadden ahead of the Calcutta Cup clash at Twickenham having missed much of the season before making an aborted comeback.

Hogg, who turned 24 last Saturday, was looking to add to his 24 caps but it was Ireland’s Cinderella side who took the attention early on.

Their sharpness was rewarded in the sixth minute. Veteran home stand-off Hodge dropped a pass from a scrum. Visiting scrum-half Conor O’Loughlin pounced on it and several pairs of hands later winger Conor McPhillips was touching down, with Paul Warwick converting from touch.

Second bottom of the Magners League, Connacht continued to look lively until a Scott Murray burst suddenly sparked life into the home side.

The vital try to get back into it was scored by another comeback man, Rob Dewey, who sold a lovely dummy to open up the line.

It suddenly became all Edinburgh and after Ben Cairns had sent Simon Webster to the Connacht corner the visitors over-threw at the line out — to Ally Strokosch who battered over. With Hodge converting both, Edinburgh led 14-7 after 20 minutes.

Warwick pulled back a penalty from the restart but Edinburgh returned to the attack. Their third try arrived when Webster, who seemed back to his best, shot though centre field before unloading to Dewey who touched down by the posts, with Hodge converting.

However Connacht got back into it with a second McPhillips try converted by Warwick who had shot through a static Edinburgh defence.

Edinburgh were thankful for a last-minute penalty from Hodge that let them turn 24-14 ahead.

Within 90 seconds of the restart Edinburgh had the bonus point, John Senio getting over from close in. Hodge converted and soon after added a penalty.

In the 50th minute, Webster added a spectacular try, running back a clearing kick through despairing tackles.

Hodge converted but Connacht still had life, grabbing a try through Dan Riordan, with Warwick converting.

In a tight finish, Webster had a second try and Phil Godman kicked a penalty for Edinburgh while David Gannon scored Connacht’s fourth try, converted by David Slemen.

While Hogg came through only his seventh Magners League game of the season unscathed, Webster seemed ready for Twickenham.

Edinburgh scorers: Tries: Dewey 2, Strokosch, Senio, Webster 2. Cons: Hodge 5. Pens: Hodge 2, Godman.

Connacht: Tries: McPhillips 2, Riordan, Gannon. Cons: Warwick 3, Slemen. Pens: Warwick.

EDINBURGH: Easson, Dey, Cairns, Dewey, Webster, Hodge, Senio, Jacobsen, Lawrie, Cross, Mustchin, Murray, Strokosch, Rennie, Hogg.

Replacements: Lopez Fleming for Webster (78), Young for Hodge (72), Laidlaw for Senio (61), Kelly for Lawrie (52).

CONNACHT: Riordan, Hearty, Williams, McHugh, McPhillips, Warwick, O’Loughlin, Wilkinson, Fogarty, Knoop, Gannon, Farley, Lacey, Ofisa, Rigney.

Replacements: Slemen for McHugh (56), Durcan for Warwick (72), Flavin for Fogarty (63), Swift for Farley (25), O’Connor for Rigney (57).

Referee: Neil Ballard (WRFU).

Result: Magners League: Glasgow 22 Cardiff Blues 3; Newport Gwent Dragons 48 Border Reivers 0.