Scots move closer to quarter-finals

Caerphilly 32 Edinburgh 66

Edinburgh moved a step closer to the Celtic League quarter-finals as they picked up maximum points at Virginia Park today.

The Scottish side produced an outstanding first-half performance to condemn their hosts to a fourth successive defeat in the competition.

Edinburgh ran in nine tries, seven of them during an amazing first half in which they established a 52-13 lead.

Caerphilly actually outscored the visitors 19-14 after the break but the damage had already been done.

Scotland’s New Zealand-born full-back Brendan Laney was the star of the show as he crossed for a brace of tries and produced a faultless goal-kicking display.

Laney converted all nine of the Edinburgh tries and also put over a penalty for a haul of 31 points.

Equally impressive was young scrum-half Michael Blair, who controlled the game superbly and was also rewarded with a try himself.

For Caerphilly, still looking for their first win in two seasons of Celtic League rugby, there was at least the consolation of a bonus point for scoring four or more tries.

Edinburgh will now virtually guarantee themselves a place in the last eight if they defeat Llanelli at Meadowbank Stadium next weekend.