Visser defies the Dragons

Editor

Tries from Scotland winger Tim Visser and Dougie Fife handed Edinburgh a 24-10 win over the Dragons in a slowburner at Murrayfield.

Tries from Scotland wingers Tim Visser and Dougie Fife handed Edinburgh a 24-10 win over the Dragons in a slowburner at Murrayfield.

Newport were able to welcome back captain Lee Byrne in what was one of seven changes from last weekend’s defeat to the Scarlets.

Whilst the Scottish side made four changes including Fife returning from injury to take his place on the wing.

Neither Byrne or Fife could get too involved in the early stages though, a forward dominated affair saw Dragons fly-half Jason Tovey miss the first points scoring opportunity as he sent his penalty wide after 26 minutes.

That miss came after a disallowed try for Visser, as the Scottish international was adjudged to have knocked on as he touched down.

Edinburgh threatened once again with Grant Gilchrist the second man to have a try ruled out be the TMO.

Repeated infringements at the scrum were frustrating all and after referee Dudley Philips sent a player from each side to the sin-bin the scoreboard finally ticked over with Tom Heathcoate slotting over two penalties to make the half-time score 6-0.

A try-less first half but it took just four minutes for the first try after the break to arrive, winger Matthew Pewtner crossing with Tovey converting for the Dragons, but their one point lead was as good as it would get.

Heathcote instantly replied with his third penalty of the afternoon before Visser blocked a clearing kick to score a converted try.

The lead was then extended as fellow winger Fife got in on the act squeezing in by the touchline.

Penalties were shared in the closing stages with Edinburgh holding on comfortably for their second win of the campaign.

The scorers:

For Edinburgh:
Tries: Visser, Fife
Con: Heathcote
Pens: Heathcote 4
Yellow Card: Andress

For Dragons:
Try: Pewtner
Con: Tovey
Pen: O’Brien
Yellow Card: Stankovich

Edinburgh: 15 Greig Tonks, 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Sam Beard, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Tom Heathcote, 9 Sean Kennedy, 8 Cornell du Preez, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Mike Coman (c), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 John Andress, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements: 16 James Hiltebrand, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Ollie Atkins, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Phil Burgleigh, 23 Jack Cuthbert.

Dragons: 15 Lee Byrne (c), 14 Matthew Pewtner, 13 Tom Prydie, 12 Ashley Smith, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Jason Tovey, 9 Jonathan Evans, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Nic Cudd, 6 Lewis Evans, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Andrew Coombs, 3 Dan Way, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Boris Stankovich.
Replacements: 16 T. Rhys Thomas, 17 Hugh Gustafson, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Ian Gough, 20 James Thomas, 21 Richie Rees, 22 Angus O’Brien, 23 Aled Brew.

Referee: Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: David Changleng (Scotland), Bob Nevins (Scotland)
TMO: Iain Ramage (Scotland)