Edinburgh brought the curtain down on the 2008/09 Magners League season in stunning fashion, scoring five tries in the space of 21 second half minutes against the Cardiff Blues to claim their highest ever finish in the tournament. Andy Robinson’s Edinburgh side secured second place in the Magners League, leapfrogging both the Ospreys and Leinster, with a second half blitz which wrecked the Blues’ farewell party at the Arms Park. The final game of the season was given extra relevance as the Welsh region’s last before moving to share the new Cardiff City Stadium a mile away. In addition, the Blues were also waving goodbye to Jamie and Nicky Robinson, off to Gloucester and Toulon respectively, and it was appropriate that the brothers combined to give them the lead. Centre Jamie snatched a loose Edinburgh pass on the Scots’ 22 and sent Nicky under the posts to give Ben Blair an easy conversion. Edinburgh hit back with a Chris Paterson penalty, but the Blues responded with a beautifully-crafted try. Winger Chris Czekaj, back in the Wales squad two years after an horrific injury in Australia, ran a superb angle to take Nicky Robinson’s short pass, brush off a weak tackle and cross the line. But in the second period everything changed, helped by Jamie Robinson’s instinctive act to stick out a hand to knock the ball down as he retreated from an offside position. Referee Simon McDowell awarded a penalty try and sin-binned the offender, leaving the Blues short of cover as Edinburgh centre Ben Cairns sped in for a second try to put them ahead. The home side were still a man short when the Scots produced a fine flowing move to see the other centre, Nick De Luca, claim a third try in nine incredible minutes. Even when the sinner returned, Edinburgh had not finished. Another thrilling passage of play was ended with fly-half Phil Godman touching down, while De Luca intercepted a careless pass to grab their fifth try. With Paterson converting four, Edinburgh were able to celebrate their fourth win at this ground in their last five visits. On this evidence, the Scots too must be regretting that they will not play at the Arms Park ever again.
