Challenge Cup: Bordeaux-Begles 13-15 Edinburgh

Heathcote kicked five points in Edinburgh's win

Edinburgh opened their European Rugby Challenge Cup campaign with an away win over Bordeaux-Begles in Pool Four.

A Lionel Beauxis penalty for Bordeaux was all that separated the sides at the turnaround.

Tim Visser got the game's first try in the second half but the hosts responded with Baptiste Serin crossing and Beauxis converting.

Beauxis added another three points but Tom Heathcote kicked, then converted a penalty try, to give Edinburgh the win.

Pierre Bernard attempted a drop-goal in the final minute but the Bordeaux substitute was unable to steal victory for the French Top 14 side.

Both sides had players sin-binned with Phil Burleigh yellow-carded just after the hour mark for Alan Solomons' side.

And the yellow cards brandished at Matthew Graham and Jean-Blaise Lespinasse in the last 10 minutes hampered the home side's chances of reversing the scoreline.

Solomons said Edinburgh's "spirit and fight was unbelievable"

Earlier, Edinburgh had to contend with the loss of captain Mike Coman, with the flanker replaced by Roddy Grant.

It took until 32 minutes for Beauxis to register the game's first points but the fly-half missed his second penalty just after the interval.

And Edinburgh took advantage when Visser went over, though Burleigh's conversion attempt was unsuccessful.

Serin ran in Bordeaux's first try and Beauxis added the extras and then his second penalty.

Edinburgh lost Burleigh temporarily but Heathcote kicked a successful penalty in his absence.

And a penalty try converted by Heathcote preceded the early departures of Graham and Lespinasse.

However, the 13 men could have won it as fly-half Bernard tried a drop-goal, but he could not slot it between the posts.

Afterwards, Solomons told the Edinburgh website: "In 37 years of coaching rugby I've never seen anything like that.

"Their spirit and fight was unbelievable. After everything we've been through to get here, we thoroughly deserved that win."

Bordeaux-Begles: Domvo, Brousse, Le Bourhis, Lacroix, Blanc, Beauxis, Serin, Delboulbes, Auzqui, Sa, Botha, Jaulhac, Graham, Guiry, Tuifua.

Replacements: Lonca for Le Bourhis (50), Lesgourgues for Serin (55), Maynadier for Auzqui (44), Toetu for Sa (40), Tauleigne for Tuifua (59). Not Used: Taofifenua, Lespinasse, Bernard. Sin bin: Graham (73), Lespinasse (73).

Edinburgh: Tonks, Fife, Beard, Strauss, T Visser, Burleigh, Hidalgo-Clyne, Dickinson, Ford, W. Nel, Bresler, Gilchrist, Leonardi, Watson, Coman.

Replacements: Heathcote for Tonks (61), Kennedy for Hidalgo-Clyne (61), Dell for Dickinson (53), Andress for W Nel (58), Atkins for Bresler (58). Not Used: Hilterbrand, Grant, McLennan. Sin bin: Burleigh (61).

Att: 2,800.

Ref: Neil Hennessy (Wales).