Cruikshank ‘delighted’ with big win

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 03: Edinburgh Head Coach Claire Cruikshank congratulates her team at full-time during a Celtic Challenge match Edinburgh Rugby Women and Clovers at Hive Stadium, on February 03, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Ewan Bootman / SNS Group)

Trailing 21-7, the home side showed great resilience and skill to come away with a dominant bonus-point win, earning a home tie against the Wolfhounds (17th of February, kick-off time TBC).

Edinburgh head coach Claire Cruikshank said: “We are delighted. We knew what we had to do to make sure of a top three spot and to go out there in the second half and play like that was really pleasing.

“There was no panic at half-time when we were behind because we’d been playing against the wind and 14 of their points came when we were a player down.”

The Clovers hit the front first, capitalising on a speculative kick through. Playing into the strong wind didn’t stop Edinburgh from striking back, with tighthead Molly Poolman finishing after an Emma Orr break had given good field position.

The visitors scored two quickfire tries with Nicole Flynn in the sin-bin, however a second Edinburgh score, this time from Millie Whitehouse, meant the capital side went into the break 21-12 down knowing they would have the wind in the second half.

“We knew if we imposed our game on them in the second half then we would create chances and I thought it was just an all-round good team performance.

“And I still feel we are growing and getting better as a group which leaves us in a good spot ahead of the second phase of the competition.”

The second half was dominant from Edinburgh, with tries from Orr and captain Sarah Denholm – plus three-pointers from Nicole Marlow and Briar McNamara – putting Edinburgh into the lead, before a late try from Lisa Thomson put the finishing touches on a brilliant afternoon for the capital club.