Review: Edinburgh v Leinster

When you welcome the European Champions to town, perhaps you shouldn't be expecting to win. However, with Edinburgh having won their opening 3 games of the season (and the last six of last season) expectations were high that we could make it 10 in a row against Irish province Leinster, despite their British & Irish Lions returning to the side for the first time this season.

And we ran them close. So close. A last minute Chris Paterson missed penalty (I know, he doesn't do that often) was all that separated us from a victory, going down 21-19 to the visitors after a frantic last 10 minutes which saw us edge into the lead 19-18 through two Paterson penalties only to lose out to a Jonathan Sexton drop goal immediately after the kick-off. We had Paterson's chance to win it - which would not have been unwarranted - but it slipped agonisingly wide. It just wasn't our night I guess.

The game was as close as the final score suggests. Edinburgh dominated territory and possession in the first half, but went in tied at 6-6 at half time. We just couldn't find the killer final pass. Ill-discipline really cost us as Leinster took their penalties early in the second half to lead 12-6, but a fine Ben Cairns try put us briefly in the lead 13-12. Another penalty for Leinster saw them lead 15-13, and yet another extended it to 18-13 before the frantic finale.

The sizeable 5,700 crowd enjoyed a cracking effort from the lads, and were pretty gutted at the finish - an indication of just how far Edinburgh have come that a two-point loss to the European Champions really hurts. I guess we were all a bit annoyed at some questionable refereeing (the touch-judge on the crowd-side line was particularly poor) but, having seen the highlights on STV's rugby show, I'd probably put that down to some "street-wise" play (as in, quite close to breaking the rules but not quite) from the Leinster forwards. Who knows, maybe we're not quite as smart at the breakdown.

Anyway, more cracking entertainment from Edinburgh. Next up is our first Heineken Cup game, at home to Ulster on 17th October.

Edinburgh 19

Try: Cairns

Conversion: Paterson

Penalties: Paterson 4

Leinster 21

Penalties: McFadden 6

Drop Goal: Sexton

I should also mention that I went to watch another game of rugby earlier on Saturday, as my mate's Murrayfield Wanderers made the trip to Peffermill to play Edinburgh University. Being me, I did get a little lost on the way, but I did end up finding my way to watching a cracking game of rugby. A 20-20 draw was probably a fair reflection of the match, though the Uni only scored a try with a minute to go to tie it up. A huge brawl just before the end - sparked by a few Uni forwards setting upon the wee Wanderers scrum-half - encapsulated the intensity with which the game was played. Have to say, I was fairly impressed by some of the forwards play - particularly the catch and drive for Wanderers third score - as well as the speed of recycling possession and some of the passing out of the tackle. Cracking effort from both sides.

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Dublin today, Edinburgh tomorrow?

Per RTE news:

21 people have been injured, three seriously, after a collision involving a Luas tram and a bus on O'Connell Street in Dublin.

The driver of the Luas had to be cut from the wreckage by emergency services. The accident occurred just after 3pm this afternoon.

There is widespread traffic disruption in the city following the accident and gardaí are diverting traffic away from the O'Connell Street and Parnell Street areas.

Luas Red Line services are only operating between Tallaght and Smithfield as a result.

Most Dublin Bus services, that would usually use O'Connell St, are diverting via Gardiner St instead.

O'Connell Street northbound is closed and will remain so until at least 7.30pm this evening.

However, the southbound side of the street has re-opened.

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Review: Edinburgh v Connacht

*** Another sport post. ***

After purchasing a season ticket for Edinburgh Rugby (for the ridiculously cheap £80), last night I had the pleasure of taking in their first home Magners League game of the season, against Irish side Connacht, so I thought I'd write a wee review.

I arrived at the stadium pretty early (given the "free-for-all" seating arrangement for season ticket holders) and found myself seated a few rows in front of the STV commentator Andy Nicol and within shouting distance of the Edinburgh coaching staff, pretty much on the halfway line - a seat with a cracking view all told.

In terms of the match (report here), Edinburgh started sluggishly, and Connacht looked like they may cause us a few problems when we had Alan MacDonald sin-binned in the first 5 minutes. However, we got a try almost immediately after he went off the pitch, and that seemed to settle the side. Another try - from a hack and chase down the field - gave Edinburgh a 20-6 lead at half-time. Two early second-half tries secured a bonus point, and when Connacht were reduced to 13 men when two players were sinbinned in successive phases of play, Edinburgh ran riot, scoring a further four tries with only Fion Carr's breakaway try for Connacht giving the small away support any cheer.

The final score of 62-13 may have flattered Edinburgh slightly, but when the Gunners finally woke up, the 8 tries that they scored simply emphasised the gulf in class between the sides. Come the end of the season, I'm hopeful that Edinburgh will finish in the top four - and in the playoff spots - which I suspect Connacht will be battling it out at the other end of the table.

Quick mention of the referee, Wales' James Jones. Each of the sinbinnings were, I think, merited. However, in open play, Jones missed three or four of the most blatant knock-ons and forward passes that you've ever seen. And, with 10 minutes to go, Mike Blair broke clear and thought he'd scored a fine try. However, after consultation with his touchjudge (and ignoring the video-referee) the referee said he'd been held up on the line and gave an attacking scrum (from which we scored anyway so no harm done). Sitting where I was, it looked to be either a good try or the man had been tackled into touch - in which case, a lineout to Connacht would have been the decision. It looked like a poor decision, and Mike Blair kept at him about it - even after we'd scored.

All in all though, a solid performance, a record home Magners League win, a bonus point and some promising signs from a couple of young players means we are set up for a cracking season. Let's hope we can deliver.

Edinburgh 62
Tries: Robertson 2, Cairns, Paterson, Hogg, MacDonald, Turnbull, Grant
Cons: Paterson 8
Pens: Paterson 2

Connacht 13
Tries: Carr
Cons: Nikora
Pens: Keatley

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Another Lib Dem leaflet

Like every politico, I do love a good Lib Dem leaflet. They never fail to disappoint, and their most recent one is no exception.

I got the "Edinburgh North & Leith Liberal Democrats Resident's Survey" through my door the other night. (Un)fortunately I was out training when their Westminster candidate, Kevin Lang, delivered the leaflet himself.

I do note that, despite the mess of Edinburgh's streets at the moment as a result of a dispute between the unions and the Lib Dem-led Edinburgh Council, there is no question on the survey regarding refuse collection.

However, I digress. It is a cracking effort at a textbook Lib Dem leaflet though. Rogue capitals, a couple of candidates featured that aren't standing in your area and, inevitably, the dodgy bar chart. Let's look at the graph, shall we?


Mmmhmm. I see what we're looking at here. 2005 UK General Election result in Edinburgh North and Leith (with slightly skewed positions on the chart I think). I guess that's a fair comparison - same boundary, same-ish population. But 4 years ago? Surely there are some more recent numbers we can look at?

Ah yes, the 2007 Scottish Parliament Election. We're working with a fairly similar boundary here (with a couple of minor changes) and obviously electing to a different parliament, but you'd expect that would give a decent barometer of support for different parties in the constituency. This was the result:

Labour 35%
Lib Dem 27%
SNP 25%
Con 13%

I see why we're not using that result - the Lib Dems have dropped a couple of points from the UK election result while the SNP more than doubled their vote share in, granted, what was an exceptional election for them.

But what's that you say? There was another election in Edinburgh North and Leith this year? Just 2 months ago? Oh yes, the European Parliament election. I seem to remember George Lyon's leaflet telling me that "Only the Lib Dems could win here," despite the whole of Scotland being a single constituency for that election! Anyway, the results in Edinburgh were broken down by constituency, so we know the result in North & Leith. And here it is:

SNP (4965) 20.5%
Labour (4324) 17.9%
Lib Dem (4201) 17.4%
Con (4199) 17.4%
Green (4014) 16.6%

Ah yes... again, I see why we're ignoring the most recent poll figure for the constituency. The Lib Dems poll figured has fallen by 10%, and they were THREE VOTES away from slipping behind the Conservatives in the constituency. And with the Greens on the march, they've almost made it a five-way marginal (with the usual caveats about European elections, PR and turnout of course).

So there were go. "It's a two horse race here in Edinburgh North and Leith." Well, if it is, the Lib Dems probably aren't one of the horses...

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Bargain!

Another one for the rugby fans... but one I thought I should share with you.

I've just bought a season ticket to watch Edinburgh at Murrayfield over the 2009-10 rugby season. Included in the price are a ticket for:

All 9 Home Magners League matches
All 3 Home Heineken Cup Group matches
3 Home Glasgow matches (including Glasgow v Edinburgh)
and a Home pre-season friendly against Harlequins.

Tot up how much you reckon that would come to. 16 games of rugby at what, 20 quid each? That's £320.

Edinburgh are offering the season ticket for half that - £160 for adults. And it gets better for me because - as a student - I qualify for the concession price. Half it again. £80. For 16 matches. That's a FIVER each.

Have to say, in the past (actually, in the present too) I have not been impressed with the SRU and their marketing strategy - particularly when it comes to Sunday Six Nations matches with late kick off times making it difficult to get back to anywhere outside the central belt before Monday. But on this, in light of the current financial climate, they've got it spot on.

If you are interested - have a wee look at the info here. It's as good a bargain as you'll find at the moment.

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