Edinburgh beat Cardiff for third straight win

• 30 Oct 2022
• News

Edinburgh consolidated fifth place in the United Rugby Championship with a hard-fought victory at Cardiff this afternoon.

Tries from Ben Muncaster, Luke Crosbie and Patrick Harrison and 10 points from Emiliano Boffelli sealed the win, while centurion Chris Dean put in an excellent performance to be named BKT Player of the Match.

Cardiff responded with a try from Thomas Young and a penalty try.

The defeat ended a three-match winning sequence for Dai Young’s men as Cardiff finish the first URC block as the top Welsh region in sixth place.

Wales half-backs Lloyd Williams and Jarrod Evans returned with Cardiff having Dillon Lewis, Taulupe Faletau, Tomos Williams, Rhys Priestland and Josh Adams involved in Wales’ international squad.

Cardiff also have Kristian Dacey, Seb Davies, Matthew Screech, Shane Lewis-Hughes, Josh Navidi, Uilisi Halaholo, Rey Lee-Lo, Owen Lane, Liam Williams, Jacob Beetham and Matthew Morgan on the injury list.

Edinburgh, who had 14 players involved in the Scotland squad, had initially made three changes from the team that claimed a bonus-point win over Zebre Parma.

Lock Pierce Phillips, flanker Muncaster and fly-half Charlie Savala started for the Scottish side.

There was also a late change full-back Henry Immelman dropping out, Jack Blain coming on the wing and Argentina star Boffelli slotting in at 15.

Boffelli opened the scoring with a penalty before flanker Muncaster dived over following good work from Dean.

Cardiff responded with a patient build-up and in-form Wales prop Rhys Carre, overlooked by Wayne Pivac this autumn, looked to have scored by burrowing over under the posts.

But the try was eventually disallowed after Italian referee Gianluca Gnecchi was alerted by the television match official Stefano Roscini of Carre’s double movement in the act of scoring.

Cardiff were awarded an opening try thanks to a smart finish from Thomas Young after strong build-up work from Ben Thomas.

Dean was again the architect of Edinburgh’s second try as he fed captain Crosbie before Evans slotted over a penalty for Cardiff.

Young was denied a second score after he was held up over the Edinburgh line before the hosts forced Edinburgh to concede a penalty try from another rolling maul with fly-half Charlie Savala shown a yellow card.

It was the first time Cardiff had led as they held a 17-15 half-time advantage.

Cardiff wing Jason Harries crossed in the second half, but that was also ruled out.

Young was penalised for a high tackle on Dean and Boffelli restored the advantage for Edinburgh.

Replacement hooker Patrick Harrison was driven over and Boffelli converted as Edinburgh moved eight points clear.

Replacement prop Corey Domachowski scythed through the Edinburgh defence, but opted to chip and his progress was robustly halted by Boffelli with no sanction issued.

Mike Blair’s side held on for victory as Cardiff managed no points in the second half.