Glasgow edge Edinburgh 24-12 to take early 1872 Cup lead

Glasgow Warriors took control of the 1872 Cup with a 24-12 victory over Edinburgh at Hampden Park, securing a first-leg bonus-point and a 12-point cushion ahead of next week’s second leg. Four tries, three coming in a dominant second half, helped Franco Smith’s side build momentum after a tense opening period. The win extended Glasgow’s recent advantages in the fixture, with the Scots club aiming to retain the trophy for a fourth consecutive year.

Edinburgh started with defense intact but struggled to generate sustained pressure in attack. Glasgow struck early, with Matt Fagerson powering over from close range after a clever setup from Sione Tuipulotu, and Adam Hastings added the conversion to make it 7-0. Edinburgh answered through Dylan Richardson’s score from a powerful push in the 22 with Cammy Scott failing the conversion, leaving the score at 7-5 at the half-hour mark. There was a moment of danger for Glasgow when Jamie Dobie looked poised to break free, but Wes Goosen intervened to halt the progression, underscoring Edinburgh’s willingness to contest at the breakdown.

The game swung decisively in the second half as Glasgow found a sharper cutting edge. Rory Darge finished off a momentum swing by crossing under the posts, and Hastings added the simple conversion to stretch the lead to 14-5. Glasgow then struck again through Gregor Hiddleston, with Hastings’ conversion attempt hitting the upright as the hosts moved 19-5 clear. Edinburgh briefly clung to hope when Grant Gilchrist powered over from a lineout, and Ross Thompson’s kick closed the gap to 19-12 with nine minutes remaining. But Glasgow wrapped things up when replacement hooker Seb Stephen crossed for the fourth try, securing the bonus point as the full-time whistle approached.

Darge’s performance stood out for Glasgow, providing the kind of tempo and ball-carrying that helped unlock Edinburgh’s defense. Edinburgh, despite featuring their Scotland internationals in the starting lineup, could not sustain consistent attacking so often, and their recent run of mixed results continued. Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham offered threats in wide channels, but the visitors found it hard to translate pressure into points beyond the one-score window in the second half. The hosts were more clinical in finishing opportunities when they mattered, a factor that defined the match’s outcome.

Glasgow entered Hampden on the back of a remarkable Champions Cup performance last weekend, where they rallied from 21-0 down to topple Toulon, the six-time European champions. That result injected momentum into Franco Smith’s squad, and the win over Edinburgh reinforced the sense that Glasgow will be a force in both domestic and European competition as the season progresses. Edinburgh head coach Sean Everitt had rotated his side for the Castres trip previously but restored a stronger lineup for this derby, yet their execution in key moments lagged behind Glasgow’s.

Attendance at Hampden was listed at 21,093, a solid showing given the venue and the mid-winter slot, though it was noted that ticket sales were down from the roughly 27,000 that attended the fixture last season. The crowd still provided a supportive atmosphere as Glasgow sought to maintain their grip on the 1872 Cup, which they have won in each of the past three seasons. With a 12-point lead heading into the second leg, Glasgow will travel to Edinburgh with the aim of sealing the cup outright, while Edinburgh must overturn the deficit to keep the trophy hopes alive.

Next week’s second leg will decide the aggregate winner of the two-legged 1872 Cup clash, with both sides aware that securing a favorable result in Scotland’s capital would tilt the balance in their favor. For Glasgow, the objective is to carry momentum from Hampden into the return fixture; for Edinburgh, the challenge will be translating periods of pressure into a more consistent scoring threat. The fixture remains a highlight of the Scottish club calendar, and Hampden’s atmosphere underscored the potential for another memorable chapter in this storied rivalry.