Edinburgh 44-21 Treviso: Paterson try adds a gloss finish to Edinburgh victory on emotional night

It was not just Paterson who was saying goodbye to Edinburgh, with ten players in all moving on now that the season is over. Phil Godman’s 150th match for the club was his last, while Alan MacDonald is leaving after 99 appearances – you’d think they’d invite him back to make the ton.

A disappointingly low crowd turned out to say farewell to these three and Mike Blair, Andrew Kelly, Kyle Traynor, Jack Gilding, Simon Webster, Esteban Lozada and Jim Thompson. With all the travelling and expenditure recently, it was perhaps understandable that the Edinburgh fans didn’t turn out in greater numbers but they missed an absolute cracker of a match, full of running rugby from both sides.

Man of the match Paterson certainly played more than his part. With 109 Scottish caps, the record points total for his club and country, and the reputation as one of the sport’s good guys, he will stay in Scottish rugby in an as yet unannounced position.

“I will find out more on Tuesday,” said Paterson, “but it was nice to go out on a high. I suppose it is the end of an era with all the other players and myself moving on, but that is professional rugby for you. You only ever borrow the jersey.”

Looking back on his career and its final match, Paterson said he had not been too emotional: “I am actually quite happy, as it is the right time to go. I am very proud of what I have achieved.”

If they played in Italy, Edinburgh would no doubt be nicknamed the “nerorossi” but not “rossoneri” as that moniker has already been grabbed by a certain AC Milan.

Maybe, just maybe, they could become the AC Milan of Scottish rugby, as this season has instilled a new sense of ambition on a European scale into the capital’s professional side. And, under coach Mike Bradley, Edinburgh have the game to prosper in future, as they showed last night.

After several penetrating phases of play that featured quick ruck ball, Treviso were pinned on their own five-metre line and, when the ball came out to Dave Denton, he breezed through the defence to score the opener after 14 minutes. Greig Laidlaw converted to add to the penalty he had scored after just three minutes.

Treviso collapsed a scrum and Laidlaw goaled another penalty, before Alessandro Zanni was yellow carded for a professional foul. Edinburgh took full advantage, Laidlaw scoring a close-range try which he converted himself.

Paterson was being cheered every time he touched the ball, and he treated the crowd to an exhibition of his peerless chip-kicking and running skills.

Treviso came back through a try from Tommaso Benvenuti, Kris Burton converting, though Laidlaw immediately pulled back three points with a penalty. Early in the second half, Brendan Williams came on for Fabio Semanzato. The Australian had been on the pitch less than three minutes when he deliberately knocked on to stop an Edinburgh move and was sin-binned.

A scintillating run from Edoado Gori from his own line to touch deep inside the Edinburgh half set up a sustained period of attacking play by the visitors which ended with Ludovico Nitoglia sprinting over for a try which Burton converted.

All of a sudden Edinburgh look rattled. Enter guess who? With Treviso standing tall in defence, Laidlaw lofted the ball over them and Paterson was on to it in typically speedy fashion to touch down for a try that was greeted with a standing ovation. Laidlaw converted, but back came the Italians who seemed determined to spoil the party.

Referee Mark Patten disallowed a “try” for a forward pass but rightly returned to the spot where he had awarded a penalty to Treviso. The forwards then created the platform which drew the home defence offside and, from that second penalty Gori took a quick tap and dashed over for the try which Burton converted.

Paterson’s haul of tries has always been vastly exceeded by his points with the boot but, in Tim Visser, Edinburgh have a man who simply can’t stop scoring five pointers. With 12 minutes left, the Edinburgh pack powered into the Treviso 22 and, when the ball went astray, Visser reacted to dash through and score his 17th try of the season, thereby bringing up the bonus point, with Laidlaw converting.

After 78 minutes, every man and woman in the stadium rose to acclaim Paterson as he finally left the stage he has graced for so long. Kyle Traynor is also leaving and he, too, got a farewell try at the death after good forward play, Laidlaw converting for the fifth time.

Referee Patton’s lust for glory led to a comedy turn in the last minute when he awarded the Italians a try despite two glaring knock ons. His touch judge intervened and Edinburgh got a scrum from which they gained touch to signal the end of an extraordinary season and Paterson’s wonderful playing career.

Scorers:

Edinburgh - Tries: Denton, Laidlaw, Paterson, Visser, Traynor. Cons: Laidlaw, 5. Pens: Laidlaw 3.

Treviso – Tries: Benvenuti, Nitoglia, Gori. Cons: Burton 3.

Edinburgh: Paterson (Leonard, 78); Brown, De Luca, Scott, Visser; Laidlaw, Leck (Godman, 68); Jacobsen (Traynor, 67), Ford (Kelly 67), Cross (Gilding, 57) , Gilchrist, Cox (Turnbull, 50), Denton (MacDonald 53), Rennie, Grant.

Replacements not used: Black.

Treviso: McLean; Gori, Benvenuti, Sgarbi (Iannone 67), Nitoglia; Burton, Semenzato (Williams 44); Rizzo (Muccignat, 61), Sbaraglini (Ceccato, 56) Fernandez-Rouyet (Cittadini, 44), Bernabo (Filipucci 56), Van Zyl, Minto, Zanni, Barbieri (Padro, 70).

Sin Bin: Zanni (30), Wlliams (47).

Replacements not used: Piccone.

Referee: M. Patton, IRFU. Attendance: 2,885.