Blackadder Leads Edinburgh Revival

Munster 17 - 28 Edinburgh Rugby Musgrave Park   Att: 4,935 Referee: Nigel Whitehouse Friday 16th April 2004, 19:30

Edinburgh skipper Todd Blackadder led the way as the Scottish side overcame their European disappointment to notch a notable double over Munster.

Todd Blackadder helped Edinburgh wipe away their Heineken Cup blues as he crossed for one of the four tries that not only brought the Scotsmen their first Celtic League triumph since February, but also helped them secure a double over Munster. In the battle between two of last weekend’s European quarter-finalists – Munster beat Stade Francais at home and Edinburgh lost in Toulouse – it was the visitors’ who came out on top as they moved out of sight of their Scottish rivals Glasgow and The Borders in the battle for Heineken Cup qualification next season by opening up a 15 point gap in the table. The bonus point try from replacement flanker Alasdair Strokosch also ensured the Gunners moved to within four points of the top half of the table. For Munster, who fielded just four of their Heineken Cup starting line-up, it was a fifth home defeat in the Celtic League this season. Right wing Shaun Payne, a try scorer in the victory over French champions Stade Francais at Thomond Park six days earlier, was the only try scorer for the home side, although the boot of emergency outside half Jason Holland ensured Munster stayed in touch. Holland helped himself to four penalties to ensure Edinburgh were never out of reach, although tries from Hugo Southwell, Blackadder and Allister Hogg, and two penalties from Allistair Warnock, gave them a five point advantage. Then came that bonus point try from Strokosch which sealed the five league points and put a smile back on the faces of the Edinburgh players and fans.

Munster V Edinburgh Rugby   P D C T Pos Player Player Pos T C D P   Christian Cullen 15 Derrick Lee 1 Shaun Payne 14 Simon Webster John Kelly 13 Marcus Di Rollo Rob Henderson 12 Tom Philip Anthony Horgan 11 Hugo Southwell 1 4 Jason Holland 10 Ali Warnock 1 2 Eoin Reddan 9 Mike Blair Frank Roche 1 Allan Jacobsen Jerry Flannery 2 Andrew Kelly Gordon McIlwham 3 Joel Brannigan Trevor Hogan 4 Alastair Kellock David Pusey 5 Scott Murray Stephen Keogh 6 Todd Blackadder 1 Colm McMahon 7 Simon Cross Peter Malone 8 Allister Hogg 1 Replacements Ross Callaghan 16 Carlo Di Ciacca Martin Cahill 17 Craig Smith Tom Hayes 18 Guy Perrett Mark Melbourne 19 Alasdair Strokosch 1 Frank Murphy 20 Graeme Burns Conrad O'Sullivan 21 Alistair Dickson Martin McPhail 22 Craig Joiner Penalty Tries 0 0

All Pictures: ©  http://www.inpho.ie/, Huw Evans Agency,  Graham Stuart