Eagles lift their 8th title

SCOTLAND RUGBY LEAGUE PREMIER GRAND FINAL


EDINBURGH EAGLES 26 - 10 AYRSHIRE STORM

Edinburgh Eagles claimed their 8th Scottish Conference title after defeating Ayrshire Storm in a dominant display. The Eagles had the vast majority of the possession in the first 10 minutes of the match and utilised their territorial advantage through Andy Grodynski who jinxed his way through the Ayrshire defence to score the opener for the Eagles. Grodynski converted his own try to increase the lead to 6 - 0.

Ayrshire battled hard in defence with fierce tackling from Brian Hendry, Tony Wright and Ewan Morrison but it was Edinburgh winger Mark Robertson who received a ball out wide from Callum Cockburn to dive over in the corner to give the Eagles a 10 - 0 lead.

Ayrshire battled back and put Edinburgh under pressure and Ruchin Fillander powered his way up field but Ayrshire were unable to break through the Edinburgh line. With no joy through the middle of the park the Storm spun the ball wide into space 10 metres from the Edinburgh line but a knock over the line let the Eagles off the hook and allowed them to retain their lead.

Play was stopped as Fillander took a head knock in the tackle and Edinburgh's Grodynski stayed down after a neck injury. Fillander left the field of play whilst Grodynski was stretchered off. Ayrshire began to dominate possession and Edinburgh found themselves conceding penalties close to their own line but were able to regain possession and work up field. With the structure they had, Paddy Coupar moved the ball wide before darting it back inside to Dave Vernon who dually crossed for Edinburgh and gave them a 14 - 0 lead moving into half time.

HALF TIME

EDINBURGH EAGLES 14 - 0 AYRSHIRE STORM

The second half started with Ayrshire Storm taking control with some good attacking play which put Edinburgh under pressure in their own 20 metre area but were unable to capitalise on the pressure and the Eagles regained possession. The game drifted into a midfield battle as both teams failed to capitalise on errors and couldn't secure possession for long enough to mount an attack.

It was Edinburgh who finally broke the deadlock after an Ayrshire Knock on, Calum Anderson ran in over the whitewash on the far side to take Edinburgh into a commanding 18-0 lead.

Ayrshire looked as if they might come back into the match after again exerting pressure on the Edinburgh line through Rodgers and Johnson but a missed penalty kick to touch saw the Eagles work up field and from a Paddy Coupar kick, Robertson regained possession and dived over the Ayrshire line to score. Edinburgh 22 - 0 Ayrshire.

Edinburgh's final try of the match came from Cameron Jackson who broke the line to score in the corner and took Edinburgh into a 26 - 0 lead.

With 15 minutes to go it looked as if the tides might be changing after Edinburgh conceded a number of penalties which gifted Ayrshire field position before Paul Johnson scored out wide with Gordon Powrie, kicking the extras. 26 - 6.

It was Ayrshire on the attack again in the final moments of the game and Alistair Maxwell powered over to pull back the score line to 26 - 10.

Ayrshire began to rally but Edinburgh's first half and start to the second proved too much to overcome and at the final whistle Edinburgh were crowned worthy victors of the Scottish Conference Premier division.

Edinburgh Eagles:


Broere, Robertson, Cockburn, Jackson, Anderson, Vernon, Grodynski, Carroll, Lomax, Jarvis, Seddon, Parkinson, Coupar, Grady, Buchanan, Johnston, Steele.


Ayrshire Storm:


Muir, Murray, Wright, Fillander, Carson, Crangle, Powrie, Hendry, Johnson, Savage, Festorazzi, Maxwell, Morrison, Rodgers, Marshall, O'Neil, Duncan.


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