Heriot’s 26 - 28 Edinburgh Accies: Cross keeps Accies’ Pequeur up and he scores last-gasp winner

After 40 minutes of this contest Edinburgh Accies’ head coach Simon Cross cut a frustrated figure at the back of the Goldenacre stand having watched his side gift Heriot’s two tries as the hosts went 26-6 up.

Just over 40 minutes later he was punching the air with delight after full-back Josh Pequeur had gone over for a try in the dying seconds to clinch a remarkable 28-26 comeback victory for the visitors.

And whatever Cross, his coaching sidekick Jonny Else and skipper Dan Teague said to their bedraggled players at half-time it certainly worked.

Heriot’s, on the other hand, will be kicking themselves having looked on easy street before self destructing and letting their Capital rivals back into the match

In front of a healthy crowd at Goldenacre the home side were handed the lead on a plate after just two minutes. A wild pass was intercepted by young Kiwi second-row Jack Turley and he showed good pace to go over for the converted try. The rest of the first quarter was quiet before Heriot’s second came after another interception. With Accies on the attack scrum-half Alex Black’s pop pass was well read and Heriot’s full-back Mike Penn and Turley worked well together to exchange passes and gain 80 metres before the former scored the converted try.

Accies did get on the scoresheet two minutes later with a penalty by stand-off Ruairidh Bonner and he added another on the 30 minute mark. Marc Teague scored the third Heriot’s try and, just before half-time they were awarded a penalty try, and with prop Lewis Niven in the sin-bin it looked like it was going to be a tough second half for Accies.

But they came out fired up and, given a helping hand by two Heriot’s yellow cards, were just three points down heading into the last eight minutes after tries from three young talents in Callum Reid, Jamie Farndale and Nyle Godsmark.

Then Pequeur, another exciting youngster, showed calmness to dive over for the winning score on the final play of the game and give Accies their first win of the season.

Scorers: Heriot’s – Tries: Turley, Penn, Teague, penalty. Cons: Wilson (3). Accies – Tries: Reid, Farndale, Godsmark, Pecqueur. Pens: Bonner (2). Con: Bonner.

Heriot’s: M Penn; M Teague, M Learmonth, R Carmichael, C Goudie; G Wilson, S Hidalgo-Clyne; G Cameron, K Bryce, S Cessford, CJ Osazuwa, J Turley, F Brown, J Hill, C Mulligan. Subs used: JP Ward, R Nimmo, M Nimmo, OJ Brown.

Edinburgh Accies: J Pecqueur; J Farndale, E Campbell, I Berthinussen, M Coupar; R Bonner, A Black; A Allan, M Liness, L Niven, G Campbell, T Drennan, D Teague, C Reid, T Hancock. Subs used: C Black, K Blyth, A Findlater, N Godsmark.

Referee: C Rudkin