Edinburgh secure home Quarter-Final with victory over Emirates Lions

Edinburgh Rugby booked their place in the EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals with a 24-12 victory over Emirates Lions at Hive Stadium.

The capital side’s dominant first-half performance proved decisive, setting up a home quarter-final clash against either Bayonne or Vodacom Bulls next weekend, with exact fixture details to be confirmed on Saturday night.

The home side exploded out of the blocks, with Wes Goosen, later crowned EPCR Player of the Match, scoring within two minutes. A scintillating break from Darcy Graham down the touchline saw the ball recycled, allowing Goosen to touch down and ignite the Hive Stadium crowd.

Magnus Bradbury was a force of nature in the opening 40 minutes, and Edinburgh’s physicality was rewarded with a second try. Goosen again sparked the attack, breaking down the far touchline, before Ben Vellacott displayed impressive athleticism to leap over a tackle and score, extending the lead to 10-0.

A powerful break from Javan Sebastian further energised the home crowd, followed by a moment of brilliance from Darcy Graham, who showcased his exceptional footwork and pace to cover a long kick and race down the Lothian Stand side.

This sustained pressure led to Jamie Ritchie powering over from close range, putting Edinburgh 17-0 up at the interval. The visitors were also reduced to 14 men, with Quan Horn sent to the sin bin for cynical play, adding to their first half woes.

The second half began with a setback for Edinburgh, as Grant Gilchrist received a yellow card for a tackle off the ball. The Lions capitalised on their numerical advantage, with Francke Horn scoring to reduce the deficit to 17-5.

The second period became a more fragmented affair, with both teams demonstrating strong defensive resolve. However, a crucial turnover from replacement Freddy Douglas shifted the momentum back in Edinburgh’s favour.

This paved the way for Ali Price to score, sealing the victory. Matt Currie’s short line break created the opportunity, and Price was on hand to finish the move, pushing the score to 24-5.

A late consolation try from Lions replacement Jaco Visage did little to dampen the Edinburgh spirits, as the home side had done enough to secure their passage to the Quarter-Finals.

Edinburgh will now eagerly await the outcome of the Bayonne vs Vodacom Bulls match to determine their next opponents at Hive Stadium. Fixture details will be confirmed on Saturday night, with season ticket members pre-sale starting on Sunday, ahead of the general on Monday.