Pro12: Edinburgh 41-10 Zebre

  • Published
Sean Cox scores a try for Edinburgh against Zebre

Edinburgh recorded a bonus-point victory against Zebre at Murrayfield.

Tries by Sean Cox and Tim Visser and 10 points kicked by Greig Laidlaw helped the hosts claim a 20-3 half-time lead.

Ross Ford crossed and Edinburgh got a penalty try before Sinoti Sinoti replied for Zebre and Daniel Halangahu converted to add to an earlier penalty.

Visser ran in his second try of the evening and Laidlaw maintained his flawless record with the boot to round off the win.

A second successive win moves Michael Bradley's side up to second in the RaboDirect Pro12.

Image caption,

Visser (left) took his season's tally of tries to six

Laidlaw eased Edinburgh in front with a penalty after five minutes, following an error-strewn opening spell.

There were 22 minutes on the clock before the home side recorded their first try, Cox rumbling over the line before Laidlaw added the additional two points.

Laidlaw and Halangahu traded penalties before Visser added a second try for the hosts after being fed by Greig Tonks. Laidlaw was again unerring with the boot to extend the home side's lead to 17 points.

Edinburgh resumed at a ferocious pace at the start of the second half and a bristling run by Matt Scott took the centre to within a few metres of the line, the recycled ball allowing Ford to bundle over. Laidlaw converted.

The capital side maintained their pressure in an effort to gain the bonus point, which led to some desperate defending from the Italians.

Zebre's skipper, Quinton Geldenhuys, was yellow-carded following one particularly poor tackle on Lee Jones.

The inevitable fourth score arrived as the referee lost patience with the collapsing Italian scrum and awarded a penalty try. Laidlaw was once again on hand to convert.

Bradley's men were then guilty of going to sleep and Sinoti took advantage to dive over the try line for the Italians. Halangahu added the additional two points with the boot.

With seconds to go, a spilled pass fell to the feet of Visser and he won the foot race to put a gloss on the scoreline and Laidlaw was successful with the final kick of the match.

Edinburgh: Tonks, Jones, De Luca, Scott, T. Visser, Laidlaw, Rees, Yapp, Ford, Nel, Gilchrist, Cox, McInally, Rennie, Talei.

Replacements: Brown for Tonks (63), Houston for De Luca (64), Black for Rees (62), Jacobsen for Yapp (47), Titterrell for Ford (47), Cross for Nel (47), Parker for Cox (62), Basilaia for McInally (62).

Zebre: Tries: Sinoti. Cons: Halangahu. Pens: Halangahu. Zebre: Sinoti, Venditti, Pratichetti, Halangahu, Trevisan, Chiesa, Tebaldi, De Marchi, Festuccia, Leibson, Geldenhuys, Sole, Caffini, Bergamasco, van Schalkwyk.

Replacements: Benettin for Pratichetti (74), Buso for Trevisan (46), Chillon for Tebaldi (46), Aguero for De Marchi (41), Manici for Festuccia (54), Redolfini for Leibson (41), Cazzola for Geldenhuys (65), Ferrarini for Caffini (41).

Att: 3,541

Related internet links

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.