Table-topping Edinburgh make it three URC wins from three with comfortable victory over Zebre

Edinburgh Rugby’s excellent start to the new URC continued with a 29-12 win away to Zebre in Round 3.

Six tries and three yellow cards were shared between the two teams with the visitors needing the final play of the match to secure the bonus point. It was a game where they never looked like being beat with the likes of Magnus Bradbury and James Grayson again having impressive individual performances.

Sean Everitt’s side drew first blood as Grayson kicked an early three points following a penalty for sealing off. However, the chance to build some early momentum was dealt a blow when Malelili Satala was shown a yellow card for a deliberate knock on.

With the man advantage, the hosts scored a wonderful try, taking a quick tap penalty after Ewan Ashman was pinged for not releasing. It was started and finished by Alessandro Fusco, offloading to winger Simone Gesi who then got it back to the young scrum-half to finish.

The 14 men of Edinburgh thought they had scored a try of their own just before Satala’s return as Geordie Gwynn showed power and pace out wide to cross in the corner. The TMO intervened, though, and the review showed that the winger had lost the ball in the act of scoring, under pressure by two covering defenders.

The new-look capital outfit were showing off their slick, offloading game again but couldn’t quite find the breakthrough so opted for the power game instead when they got into the Zebre 22 just before the half hour mark with Schoeman, Ashman and Bradbury all having big carries before they eventually did send it out to the backs for Matt Currie to cross for the try.

Four minutes before half time it was Zebre’s turn to be reduced to 14 men with try scorer Fusco sin binned for offside. The visitors immediately took advantage from the penalty and line-out which was easily driven over from close range with Freddy Douglas the player getting the score.

The opening stages of the second half were all Edinburgh and they extended their lead on 55 minutes after numerous bursts from the forward pack, all with penalty advantage, were eventually finished off by Bradbury, who powered over with an assist from Douglas. The co-captain had been excellent up to that point and a try was a fitting reward for his individual efforts.

Sean Everitt’s side had started looking comfortable but were once again reduced to 14 men with replacement hooker Harri Morris sent to the bin for a dangerous clearout in the ruck on Samuele Locatelli, targeting the lower limbs. Ashman returned to the pitch to fulfil the front-row requirements, with Douglas sacrificed.

It gave Zebre a foothold in the game and they managed to get their second try just before the visitors returned to a full complement with Giacomo Ferrari forcing his way through. Edinburgh would have left frustrated if they couldn’t pick up the bonus point, but once they got the ball back, a penalty was sent to the corner and the rolling maul in the final minute took them over with replacement Tom Currie on the end of it. Grayson kicked the conversion to end the game 29-12.

It’s a break from URC action next up for the capital club as they return to the Hive and welcome French Heavyweights Toulon in the Challenge Cup on Friday.