Heriot-Watt scored six tries to thrash a weakened Edinburgh side in a thrilling Varsity match at Peffermill. A large crowd watched as the smaller university produced a fine display of attacking rugby and recorded their fourth win of the season.

Great performances from Heriot-Watt centres Paul Saunders and Marcus McAllister did most of the damage: they scored 21 points between them and terrorised Edinburgh’s back line, which was missing key players through injury and often capitulated under pressure.

The game seemed close in the first half and Edinburgh were looking strong when Tom Clarke broke through several tackles to score under the posts and make it 16-6. But this was the last time Edinburgh scored. They spent the rest of the game pinned in their own twenty-two and soon lost their lead. A well-timed switch pass from McAllister put Saunders through for a try, and McAllister assisted again ten minutes later when he gave the ball to winger Andy Hutt, who sprinted past Edinburgh’s sluggish players to put Heriot-Watt 16-20 up at the break.

Fly-half Liam Steel’s retirement with a neck injury at half time was a blow for Edinburgh, and they could no longer rely on his strong kicking and tackling to get them out of trouble. Heriot-Watt soon punished them: Saunders broke the line again with ease to score his second try, and then in the 58th minute Donald Sangster, the flanker, showed strength and pace to put the game beyond Edinburgh’s grasp. This didn’t stop McAllister, who proceeded to score another try and create yet another, to cap a brilliant performance.

Looking back on a game in which they missed over 30 tackles and conceded 15 penalties, Edinburgh will have a lot to work on, but Heriot-Watt can bask in the glory of their Varsity victory.