Heineken Cup
Laidlaw boots Edinburgh to shock victory
ESPN Staff
October 13, 2013
Edinburgh celebrate their win over Munster © PA Photos
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Edinburgh re-found their best form to dispatch Munster 29-23 in the Heineken Cup at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The Scottish side are currently second bottom in the PRO12 but put in a committed effort against the two-time Heineken Cup winners. Matt Scott scored Edinburgh's first try of the match with an effort in the fifth minute - the score came after Scott was involved four times in the build-up.

But Munster pinned them back with Casey Laulala scoring under the posts and Mike Sherry also going over. Despite seeing Munster leap ahead, Edinburgh retook the lead with Greig Laidlaw's boot keeping the scoreboard ticking over to make it 19-17 to the home side at the break.

In the second 40, the pace of the game stayed the same but Munster slotted two penalties to take the lead. But faced with a four-point deficit, Edinburgh's Tim Visser sprinted down the left flank in the 68th minute to give Edinburgh the lead. Laidlaw nailed the conversion and a late penalty to give the Scottish side a surprising, but deserved victory.

Leinster got their quest for a fourth Heineken Cup crown off to a winning start as Sean O'Brien's try helped them battle past the Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium winning 19-9.

The British and Irish Lions flanker's try capped an excellent personal display, with fly-half Jimmy Gopperth booting the rest of Leinster's points with four penalties.

The Ospreys responded with three penalties from Wales fly-half Dan Biggar, but the hosts lacked the accuracy in attack and edge at the breakdown to overcome a side who have won European silverware in each of the last three seasons.

The Scarlets scored three fantastic tries to help them to a shock 33-26 win over Harlequins at the Stoop on Saturday afternoon.

Rhodri Williams, Scott Williams and Jordan Williams supplied the tries and Rhys Priestland scored 18 points as the Celtic visitors completed a thrilling victory at the Twickenham Stoop. Quins were second best throughout and had it not be for the the brilliance of Mike Brown, who crossed twice and was their heartbeat from start to finish, they would have lost more emphatically.

The Scarlets enjoy the moment © Getty Images
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Jonny May's late try handed Gloucester a morale-boosting win over Perpignan who were reduced to 14-men in the closing stages of the match when Lifeimi Mafi saw red.

May struck five minutes from time during an intense Pool Six encounter, while scrum-half Jimmy Cowan also scored and his half-back partner Billy Twelvetrees kicked 17 points in a 27-22 success. It was rough justice on Perpignan's Wales international full-back James Hook, who scored an early try, converted it, kicked a drop-goal and booted four penalties, but Perpignan are left still seeking a first Heineken victory on English soil.

Northampton Saints' Heineken Cup campaign started with a defeat as they were outmuscled by reigning French champions Castres 19-13.

A Dylan Hartley try, and eight points from the boot of Steven Myler at least ensured Saints left Stade Pierre Antoine with a losing bonus point. Northampton gifted Castres their first try when Romain Martial ran back an interception almost the full length of the field after 11 minutes.

Hartley pounced for his team's only try as Saints lacked the firepower to overcome the defending French Top 14 champions but three Rory Kockett penalties secured the win for the French outfit.

Dylan Hartley powers over for Northampton Saints' only try © Getty Images
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Racing Metro ground out a 13-9 victory despite being forced on to the back foot for much of their Heineken Cup Pool 4 clash with French rivals Clermont Auvergne. All the points in the first half came through penalties, but Marc Andreu scored the game's only touchdown shortly after half-time to set up victory. The result was harsh on Clermont winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, whoe was almost unplayable as his side dominated the territorial battle but could not put points on the board.

With Ulster opening their campaign with a win over Leicester on Friday night, the other two teams in their group Treviso and Montpellier were in action and it was the French side who emerged victorious 27-10. The Top 14 side crossed for two tries through Jonathan Pelissie and Thomas Combezou in a match that saw both sides receive two yellow cards.

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