StoneX Stadium

Full-Time

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18 - 21
18
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21
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EDINBURGH BATTLE TO FAMOUS EUROPEAN WIN

Edinburgh claimed a historic and deserved 18-21 away win against Saracens to kick off their EPCR Challenge Cup campaign in style.

The capital side put in a monumental defensive effort to hold out Saracens, with scores from Ramiro Moyano, WP Nel, and the monster boot of Emiliano Boffelli giving Edinburgh the points to seal the game.

Heavy rain poured down at the StoneX Stadium, and it was the visitors who adjusted to the conditions the quickest, Emiliano Boffelli nudged over a penalty to give Edinburgh a slim lead. (0-3)

The scoreboard would see-saw constantly through the 80 minutes, and it didn’t take long for Saracens to hit the front for the first time, with captain Alex Goode dotting down in the corner after a period of sustained pressure in the Edinburgh 22m. (5-3)

Edinburgh responded quickly, with Boffelli landing the first of two giant penalty kicks. The pack won a scrum penalty against the head on half-way – the first of many won by the dominant front row – and eventual Player of the Match Boffelli hammered resulting kick from 50 out. (5-6)

A moment of brilliance extended the lead, as Savala – making only his second start for the club – chipped a perfect kick to Moyano in the corner who was able to gather ahead of his opposite man to dot down. (5-13)

Sarries hit back almost immeditately however, flanker Andy Christie thundering over from close range. For the remaining 12 minutes of the half, it was all about Edinburgh’s defence, soaking up attack after attack to go into the break with their lead intact. (12-13)

Two Manu Vunipola penalties sandwiched a Boffelli kick to nudge the home side ahead after the break. Boffelli thundered his second long range kick of the afternoon, capitalising on another huge scrum penalty to the visitors. (18-16)

WP Nel took the game by the scruff of the neck just after the hour mark, tipping the balance in Edinburgh’s favour. The prop demolished the Saracens scrum, resulting in his opposite man Eroni Mawi going to the bin, and from the resulting field position the Nel was able to crash over giving Edinburgh the lead with 14 minutes to go. (18-21)

The final moments of the game became attack vs defence, with the home side throwing the kitchen sink at Edinburgh to try and wrestle the game back. Edinburgh stood firm, eventually surviving a driving maul in the closing stages, to claim a colossal win on the road against one of Europe’s elite sides.

Kick-off 7:35 pm