Edinburgh produced their second outstanding performance of character in foul weather in only six days to defeat Rabodirect PRO12 champions Leinster at Murrayfield.
Less than a week on from their win in the wet at Gloucester in the Heineken Cup, the capital club came home to even worse conditions and managed to prevent the opposition scoring a try for the first time this season.
Dougie Fife’s try 10 minutes from half-time proved the difference, but it was Edinburgh’s better executed gameplan in the conditions with some fine tactical kicking by Greig Tonks and Jack Cuthbert giving them an edge.
The forward effort was, however, crucial with man of the match Cornell du Preez just edging the award from Roddy Grant, Ross Ford and Grant Gilchrist.
“We played the conditons pretty well out there and didn’t make that many mistakes,” said du Preez.
“The gameplan was all forwards, really, but we set ourselves up very well for the big derby games against Glasgow in the next fortnight.”
It was Irish legend Brian O’Driscoll’s last game at Murrayfield and the great centre could hardly have had a worse night for his farewell, with appalling weather conditions, an already poor pitch disintegrating in the wet and a small crowd huddling under the eaves out of the biting wind and rain.
Both sides had difficulty gripping the ball in the early going with Edinburgh having the breeze at their backs, but it required a strong scrummage and a wrap tackle from Ford to stop two early Leinster threats.
Madigan made one good dart before a team-mate spilled the ball and the young fly-half opened the scoring after a predictably messy first 20 minutes with an easy penalty after du Preez had been penalised for not rolling away.
But on the half-hour Edinburgh got a spark from a clean break through the middle of a ruck by Greig Laidlaw and although the skipper didn’t have the support to make that into a score, the home side stayed patient.
Several phases bashing into the Leinster defence eventually opened up space for a rare set backs move with Fife racing on to Tonks’ superbly delayed pass to dive over for the try. Laidlaw missed the conversion but kicked his side further ahead before half-time after Cuthbert’s fine kick and chase put Leinster on the back foot on their own 22.
Madigan and Laidlaw swapped penalties at the start of the second spell as the rain abated a little but conditions were scarcely easier with the wind stiffening and handling remained a problem for both sides.
Laidlaw was out on the full with a couple of kicks but the skipper’s awareness was to the fore with another nippy break up the middle of the field and du Preez was inches from a second try for the home side.
Leinster in contrast wanted to use their backs but invariably the ball got through two pairs of hands before being spilled and gratefully snared by the Edinburgh defenders.
The visitors finally got position in the 22 to force a winning score in a nerve-racking final five minutes, but a succession of committed defensive hits on their own line followed by a huge tackle by Denton forced another spill and Edinburgh were able to tough out the victory.