Edinburgh foiled by floodlight failure

Published on Tuesday 18 November 2008 22:50

EDINBURGH'S match with Georgia ended prematurely last night when it was abandoned following the failure of the Meggetland floodlights after just 26 minutes.

By that stage the hosts had built up a 19-0 lead over their disappointing international visitors and had dominated most of the match.

The abrupt ending was an annoyance for all concerned, but safety must come first. Edinburgh coach Andy Robinson will have been impressed by a number of his fringe players, notably scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, and will have been pleased with fit-again back-row Ross Rennie's two tries.

The Scotland cap has only played 20 minutes in one Magners League match this term along with last week's back-up game against Glasgow, but looked sharp enough in the time played to suggest that he will be back in Robinson's squad when Magners League action resumes next Friday at Murrayfield against the Ospreys.

Rennie said: "We are disappointed (with the abandonment] because we were all enjoying it. We felt like we were playing some good stuff and putting together some good phases and while it was pleasing to get two tries they both came from short range. I am just glad to be back playing."

Edinburgh showed their intent right from kick off at Boroughmuir's ground when they ran the ball at the Georgians at the first attempt. Scrum-half Laidlaw looked sharp in the early exchanges and it was fitting that he got the first try of the evening.

After some strong runs by a couple of forwards, the Scotland Sevens cap took the ball from the edge of a ruck on the visitors' line and dived over with stand-off David Blair converting. Six minutes later Rennie then marked his return to competitive action with a similar try, but this time Blair could not add the extras.

Most of the play continued in the Georgia half up until the 20-minute mark with Edinburgh asserting pressure in the scrum just as Scotland A did against the same opposition last Friday evening at Firhill.

Rennie went on to add his second try of the match after 25 minutes from 10 metres after Blair had set him up with a jinking run. The floodlights then went off a minute later and after an 18-minute wait, proceedings were called to a halt.

Scorers: Tries: Laidlaw, Rennie 2. Cons: Blair 2

Edinburgh: J Thompson; M Teague, J Houston, C MacRae, A Turnbull; D Blair, G Laidlaw; K Traynor, A Kelly, G Kerr, B Gissing, C Hamilton, S Newlands, S Cross, R Rennie. Substitutes (none used): S Lawrie, S Crombie, R Grant, B McNeil, F McKenzie, N Patrick, B Meyer, A Easson, M Dey, R Reid.

Georgia: L Malagurdze; G Shkinin, D Kacharava, L Khmaladze, I Machkhaneli; M Kvirikashvili, B Samkharadze; D Gasviani, D Dadunashvili, G Kavtidze, I Zedginidze, K Uchava, S Maisuradze, B Udesiani, R Urushadze. Substitutes (none used): I Natriashvili, K Aseishvili, S Sutiashvili, D Basilaia, I Abuseridze, A Todua, I Chkhikvadze, K Vasil, B Otar.

Referee: P Allan.