Bonus point puts Edinburgh through

Edinburgh 9 Stade Francais 7

Stade Francais gained the losing bonus point they needed to reach the Heineken Cup quarter-finals despite being outmuscled by their hosts at a sodden Murrayfield.

The French side scored the only try of the game through lock Pascal Pape, but three penalties from Chris Paterson gave the Gunners a morale boosting win at the end of a disappointing European campaign.

The trusty boot of Paterson opened the scoring with an early penalty after Stade were penalised for infringing at the breakdown. The three points saw the full-back became Edinburgh’s highest points scorer in Heineken Cup history, eclipsing the previous record held by Duncan Hodge.

Despite the majority of the opening exchanges being played in the visitors’ half, it was the French side who registered the first try as second row Pape powered over from close range, managing to evade three tacklers on his way to the line. France international Lionel Beauxis landed the conversion to give Stade a 7-3 lead.

That advantage was cut by the hosts as half-time loomed, Paterson once again stroking over a penalty to ensure the game was finely poised entering the second period.

It was Edinburgh who registered the first points of the second half, the accuracy of Paterson’s kicking remaining impeccable as he slotted his third penalty of the game, capitalising on further Stade indiscipline on the floor.

Stade sent on Scotland international Simon Taylor, after 12 weeks out with a bicep injury, as the back-rower looks to prove his fitness to national coach Andy Robinson ahead of the RBS 6 Nations.

But Taylor could not prevent the Edinburgh pack from continuing to wreak havoc around the fringes, the ubiquitous Roddy Grant looking dangerous.

The Gunners’ forwards looked set to reap the rewards of their dominance, but a rampaging move resulted only in a five-metre attacking scrum after the hosts were held up over the try line.

The Stade defence proceeded to withstand wave upon wave of attritional forward play from the hosts, until the colossal figure of France centre Mathieu Bastareaud brought a lengthy passage of play to a shuddering halt with a trademark big hit.

But an incisive run from wing Mark Robertson enabled the home side to re-enter Stade territory, and they were soon presented with an opportunity to stretch their lead as the visitors once again committed an offence at the breakdown. However, winger Jim Thompson sliced his penalty attempt to leave the final result in the balance.

Fly-half Phil Godman failed to convert a last-minute penalty attempt that would have added gloss to the scoreline, yet it proved inconsequential as Edinburgh held on for a victory which enabled them to end their European campaign on a high.