MacDonald try seals Edinburgh win
Sat, 03 May 2008 01:10
Edinburgh became the first Scottish side to beat the Ospreys away from home in the Magners League, as a late try from flank Alan MacDonald saw Andy Robinson's men prevail 19-18 at the Liberty Stadium on Friday.
MacDonald scored a magnificent last gasp try in the corner to secure a memorable away win at Ospreys, with Edinburgh running in three fine tries.
MacDonald's try was the final act of a phenomenal match.
Edinburgh opened the scoring with a Allister Hogg try in the fifth minute, with Calum MacRae's conversion giving the visitors a 7-0 lead.
James Hook penalties in the ninth, 23rd, 35th and 38th minutes saw Ospreys take a 12-7 lead at the break.
Edinburgh was reduced to 14 men late in the half, when Hogg was yellow carded.
Nick De Luca scored a breathtaking solo try at the start of the second half to put Edinburgh back into the lead.
The Scotland centre started the move direct from the re-start and carried the ball up the pitch before off-loading to Matt Mustchin who in turn brought Calum MacRae into play.
The move culminated with De Luca selling an outrageous dummy before touching down in between the posts. MacRae then added the extras with a straightforward conversion.
But prop Geoff Cross was yellow carded for an infringement at a ruck, to take Edinburgh back down to 14 men.
James Hook then nailed his fifth penalty (in the 54th minute) and added the sixth in the 72nd minute for a 18-14 home-town lead.
But the Scottish flank, MacDonald, went over in the left corner just as the Ospreys seemed to have eased to a win.
The scorers:
For Ospreys:
Pens: Hook 6
For Edinburgh:
Tries: Hogg, De Luca, MacDonald
Cons: MacRae 2
Yellow cards: Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby, 53), Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Rugby, 40)
Teams:
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Aled Brew, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Johnny Vaughton, 10 James Hook, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Cai Griffiths, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Duncan Jones.
Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Adam Jones, 18 Ian Gough, 19 Filo Tiatia, 20 Rhys Webb, 21 Shaun Connor, 22 Jonathan Spratt.
Edinburgh: 15 Calum MacRae, 14 Andrew Maxwell, 13 Ben Cairns, 12 Nick De Luca, 11 Andrew Turnbull, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Mike Blair, 8 David Callam, 7 Alan MacDonald, 6 Allister Hogg (c), 5 Ben Gissing, 4 Matt Mustchin, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Augusto Allori.
Replacements: 16 Steve Lawrie, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Fergus Pringle, 19 Scott Newlands, 20 Greig Laidlaw, 21 David Blair, 22 Matt Dey.
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)
Touch Judges:
James Jones (WRU), Huw David (WRU)
TMO: Tony Rowlands (WRU)
