Final Score: Edinburgh Rugby ‘A’ 35 – 26 Glasgow Warriors ‘A
Venue: Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
Edinburgh Rugby ‘A’ began their 2025/26 campaign with a hard-fought but deserved 35–26 victory over Glasgow Warriors ‘A’ in a thrilling intercity encounter at Hive Stadium. The match not only delivered an entertaining afternoon of attacking rugby but also showcased several young players pushing hard for senior breakthroughs ahead of the United Rugby Championship season.
The first half was a bruising contest marked by fierce breakdown battles and bursts of attacking intent from both sides. Edinburgh drew first blood after just six minutes, with lock Euan McVie powering over following sustained forward pressure. Ross Wolfenden’s conversion made it 7–0.
Glasgow struck back quickly through full-back Fergus Watson, whose pace and finishing ability again underlined his credentials for senior contention. Matt Urwin added the extras to level the scores at 7–7.
Edinburgh regained the lead midway through the half when hooker Jerry Blyth-Lafferty — one of the standout performers of the day — drove over from close range, continuing his habit of finding the line in tight exchanges. However, just before the break, Watson grabbed his second of the afternoon, ensuring parity at 14–14 as the teams went into the interval.
The momentum initially swung toward Glasgow early in the second half when replacement hooker Seb Stephen finished clinically in the corner, giving the Warriors their first lead of the match at 19–14.
Yet, Edinburgh’s response was emphatic. With their forwards dominating collisions and their tempo increasing, Blyth-Lafferty claimed his second try of the day just four minutes later. The conversion edged the capital side back ahead 21–19 — a lead they would not surrender.
Scrum-half Adam McKenzie, representing The University of Edinburgh, then produced a decisive moment, sniping from the base of a ruck to extend the margin to 28–19. As the third quarter unfolded, Edinburgh’s energy and control suffocated Glasgow’s attempts to regain territory.
Replacement Callum Jessop added late gloss to the scoreline with a sweeping finish down the right flank. Glasgow managed a late consolation through Brent Jackson, converted by Urwin, to close at 35–26 — but the decisive spell of Edinburgh dominance had long sealed the result.
The platform for Edinburgh’s victory was laid by their pack, with Number 8 Tom Currie named Player of the Match for a performance full of authority and aggression. Currie anchored the scrum, carried relentlessly, and kept Glasgow’s defence on the back foot throughout.
Behind him, Blyth–Lafferty’s brace highlighted his growing consistency at hooker, while McKenzie’s sharp decision-making and Watson’s finishing for Glasgow underlined the depth of Scottish rugby’s emerging talent pool.
Both coaching teams can take positives from the encounter: Edinburgh’s composure and set-piece dominance, and Glasgow’s flashes of attacking cohesion through their backline combinations.
Looking Ahead: The 1872 Cup on the Horizon
Beyond the final score, this ‘A’ fixture served as a crucial audition for players eyeing a role in December’s 1872 Cup — the storied rivalry between the senior Edinburgh and Glasgow squads.
Several performers at Hive Stadium may well feature in those high-stakes derbies later in the season, having proven their readiness for the intensity of intercity rugby. For Edinburgh, the result adds momentum to their development pathway, while Glasgow will regroup with lessons learned and opportunities for redemption when the sides meet again in the next A-team clash.
Final Score: Edinburgh Rugby ‘A’ 35 – 26 Glasgow Warriors ‘A**
Tries (Edinburgh): McVie, Blyth-Lafferty (2), McKenzie, Jessop
Conversions: Wolfenden (5/5)
Tries (Glasgow): Watson (2), Stephen, Jackson
Conversions: Urwin (3/4)
