Edinburgh maintain form

Edinburgh Gunners 28 Glasgow Warriors 12

Lethal Gunners stepped up their Celtic League title charge by completing a clinical demolition job on their injury and illness-ravaged derby rivals at Murrayfield.

And to compound Glasgow’s misery, playmaker Calvin Howarth was stretchered off in the dying seconds with a suspected broken leg and looks certain to be sidelined for the Heineken Cup campaign.

The odds had been stacked against the Warriors after several squad members were struck down by a mystery throat and stomach virus.

And despite a bright start, they could find no answer to the pace, power and poise of the home side as they leaped to the top of the table – but the Howarth departure was the real sickener.

Frustrated Glasgow chief Hugh Campbell was forced to field a makeshift pack for the crucial showdown and within just three minutes they were trailing as Gunners skipper Chris Paterson thumped over a 45-metre penalty for offside after a chip by visiting captain Dan Parks.

Edinburgh continued to have the better of the lively early exchanges, but it was the Warriors who bagged the first touchdown to earn an injection confidence.

The home marking at a line-out was totally deceived by Scotty Lawson’s quick throw to Gregor Hayter at the front.

Hayter, making his full debut since moving from Italy, rumbled to two metres short of the target, where he was blocked.

But he had the presence of mind to seek out Lawson hurtling up on his shoulder and the Test hooker gleefully finished off in style.

Parks struck the wide-angled conversion beautifully – only to grimace in frustration as it crashed back off the upright.

Edinburgh replied in positive fashion with a powerful surge by lock Ally Kellock. The Warriors were pressured into entering the ruck illegally and Paterson made easy work of the kick from dead in front.

That was the cue for the Gunners to add a further scoring spurt which effectively snuffed out the hopes of Glasgow.

Paterson had luck on his side midway through the half when a drop-goal bid skimmed over the right side of the bar.

Then, just a minute later, they created an excellent forwards’ try. The Warriors worries began after Rory Lamont felled Phil Godman with a high challenge.

From the penalty line-out, veteran Scotland lock Scott Murray galloped through in the wake of a slick one-two with flanker Simon Cross. Paterson added the extras to open up an 11-point gap.

Edinburgh remained in control, but Glasgow should have clawed their way back into it when a strong maul got to within a couple of paces of the target – but they messed it up in the final few seconds.

Even worse was to come for the visitors when they handed the Gunners seven more points in stoppage time before the break.

Again, Glasgow seemed to have the upper hand after a spill by Simon Taylor.

But they lost a soft turnover themselves, allowing alert scrum-half Rory Lawson to scamper to the try zone from almost 60 metres. Dead-eye Paterson landed another great kick to put his team in easy street.

Warriors gave themselves a glimmer of hope 12 minutes from the end when Parks put Graeme Morrison through a gap before providing the scoring pass for Andy Craig.

Parks converted – but any prospect of a dramatic fightback was dashed as young centre Rob Dewey enhanced his growing reputation by muscling over after fine work by Ally Hogg.

Edinburgh then went flat out for the precious bonus point and Hogg was denied inches from the target.

The spotlight then fell on the distraught Howarth, who was rushed to hospital for scans.