By Dai
May 1 2004

THe Celtic Warriors were able to ovecome Edinburgh on Friday night by 30 points to 19 which should now ensure that Heineken Cup rugby will be secure for next season. For more details read on.

Despite an interval deficit of 9 - 0 the Warriors were able to fight back and score 3 second half tries to overcome Edinburgh by 30 - 19 which should see them in next seasons Heineken Cup. 

Edinburgh outside half, Ally Warnock, was able to punish the Warriors after they were deemed to have twice been offside and collapsing a maul in the first half. Warnock comfortably slotted over the over three penalties to give the home side a healthy 9 - 0 lead at the interval. 

However, as the teams re-entered the field for the second half it was the Warriors that looked more fired up to get some points on the board. They did just that with two tries in quick succession first from Maama Molitika who touched down under the posts after a charge through the 22 and then from Gareth Cooper who slipped through the defence to cross the line. Ceri Sweeney added the extras to put the Warriors 14 - 9 up.

Edinburgh hit back with a fourth penalty through Ally Warnock but it was the trusty boot of replacement Neil Jenkins that slotted over three further penalties for the Warriors to put them in the driving seat at 23 - 12 before late tries from Robert Sidoli for the Warriors and Allan Jackobson for Edinburgh uped the scores to 30 - 19 in the Warriors favour.

The win now puts the Warriors in fourth place in the league, ahead of rivals the Ospreys by 5 points after they drew 16 - 16 in Leinster and the Blues by 9 points despite a 60 - 14 win over a weakened Munster side at the Arms Park.

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Warriors Scorers:

Tries: Molitika, Cooper, Sidoli

Cons: Sweeney (2), Jenkins

Pens: Jenkins (3)

Edinburgh Scorers:

Try:     Jacobson

Con:   Warnock

Pens: Warnock (4)

 

Edinburgh Starting XV: D Lee, S Webster, M Di Rollo, T Philip, H Southwell, A Warnock, G Burns, A Jacobsen, A Kelly, J Brannigan, G Perrett, A Kellock, T Blackadder (capt), A Dall, A Hogg.

Replacements: C Di Ciacca, C Smith, Pike, Strokosch, R Lawson, A Dickson, C Joiner.

Warriors Starting XV: K Morgan, D James, G Thomas (capt), S Parker, G Wyatt, C Sweeney, G Cooper, G Jenkins, M Davies, C Horsman, D Jones, R Sidoli, M Molitika, C Harris, R Bryan.

Replacements: M Rees, M Jones, B Cockbain, R Jones, S Martens, N Jenkins, E Lewis.