Glasgow take 12-point lead in 1872 Cup after Hampden win over Edinburgh

Glasgow Warriors took a commanding 12-point lead into the second leg of the 1872 Cup after beating Edinburgh 24-12 at Hampden on Saturday.

Edinburgh found themselves stifled for long stages of the match, unable to unleash their best attacking weapons as Glasgow built a lead that now looks difficult to overturn in the return encounter next week. The night’s narrative centered on Edinburgh’s failure to convert pressure into scores and on Sean Everitt’s ongoing challenge of giving Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham the service to influence the contest.

Edinburgh did strike first-half momentum, with Matt Fagerson and Dylan Richardson trading tries to keep the score close as the teams went into the break at 7-5. The hosts controlled parts of the opening 40 minutes, but Glasgow showed clinical edge when it mattered, and the Warriors pulled away after halftime with two quick-fire tries from Rory Darge and Gregor Hiddleston. Edinburgh’s defense kept them in the contest at times, including three goal-line stands that denied Glasgow on separate occasions, but the finishing touch largely eluded Everitt’s side when the game was there to be taken.

Duhan van der Merwe, who challenged Glasgow’s Kyle Steyn for a high ball at times, ended the night nursing a knock that could affect his involvement next week, while Darcy Graham looked less involved than is customary for Edinburgh’s danger man in wide channels. By the end, the visitors were able to clamp down defensively only to concede a late try and allow Seb Stephen to dive over for Glasgow’s fourth, sealing the bonus point and a 12-point cushion ahead of the second leg.

After the final whistle, Everitt reflected on the tactical gap in attack and the need to find a better way to use Edinburgh’s attacking playmakers. “We’ll review the game and see where we get better from an attack point of view,” he said. “You have to fire some shots from an attack point of view and it didn’t work out for us. I know we weren’t good on attack.”

The head coach did not hide the broader concern: Edinburgh have struggled to establish a distinct attacking identity under his watch. “It’s for us as coaches to have a look and see where we can improve,” he added, underscoring the recurring theme of underutilised weapons rather than a single moment of misfortune.

Glen Young, Edinburgh’s lock, offered a more defensive-positive take, noting the work of the pack but conceding the need to be more clinical when opportunities arose. “It was probably the best we’ve defended all season,” Young said, “but when we are in the game in attack, we’ve got to kill them off. We can take pride in how we defended, but Glasgow were probably more clinical than us. We need to be more clinical.”

In the broader context of Scottish rugby, the result reinforced Glasgow’s recent Cup dominance while underscoring Edinburgh’s inconsistency in a season that has mixed high points with unfamiliar flat spells. Glasgow have won the 1872 Cup in each of the past three seasons, and while their URC form remains competitive, the margin in this tie gives them a clear platform in the return leg. Edinburgh, meanwhile, must now rediscover a sharper attacking plan if they are to avoid a chastening exit from a trophy they are keen to win but have not managed to chase down with sustained momentum.

As ever in this border-rivalry rivalry, the second leg will be the decisive moment. If Edinburgh can piece together a cleaner, more purposeful game and coax more from their big-name wings, the tie remains alive. If not, Glasgow’s methodical, error-light approach could seal a return to Hampden with a another win and the 1872 Cup title already in sight.