Edinburgh find courage to end season with pride<\/p>\n
Sean Everitt talked about a fast start and a strong finish. He got both of those, but it was the bit in the middle that saw the Bulls pull out of sight.<\/p>\n
However, the fight Edinburgh showed to get ahead and then set up a tense-ish finale was admirable.<\/p>\n
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They were able to pick themselves up off the canvas after the three-try blitz that would have left others floored. Tries from Ewan Ashman and Wes Goosen made a game of it, but they just couldn’t climb the mountain.<\/p>\n
If only they could show that hunger, fight and desire in every game, they wouldn’t have had to face the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld – one of the hardest away days in the league.<\/p>\n
Young guns offer hope for next season<\/p>\n
There was a moment in the final 10 minutes that threatened to swing the game back Edinburgh’s way.<\/p>\n
Ali Price’s up-and-under was chased by Harry Paterson, who smashed Canan Moodie back. Liam McConnell, the 20-year-old back-row just off the bench, cleaned out the ruck. Ben Muncaster followed to win the ruck penalty.<\/p>\n
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Three young players, all with huge futures, combining to set up a potential game-swinging moment. It didn’t quite work out like that – the subsequent line-out was turned over by the Bulls – but it showed there is hope for the future.<\/p>\n
With Dave Cherry away, promising hooker Paddy Harrison will get even more game time after a breakthrough season. Freddy Douglas, Muncaster and Liam McConnell will be knocking on the door. Tom Currie, too.<\/p>\n
Connor McAlpine was on the bench for this one, with fellow scrum-half Hector Patterson also highly regarded. No scrum-half replacement will be sought for the outgoing Price.<\/p>\n
Bradbury shows captain’s qualities again<\/p>\n
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In the absence of co-captains Grant Gilchrist and Ben Vellacott, both missing through injury, it was once again Magnus Bradbury’s turn to wear the armband.<\/p>\n
It is now a long time since he was stripped off the captaincy due to an off-field incident, aged just 22.<\/p>\n
Here, he delivered another stellar performance with the weight of responsibility having no burden at all.<\/p>\n
He bungled one restart, which did prove costly, but spoke well after the game about how Edinburgh have had a tough season, but how they should be a top-four team.<\/p>\n
Lofty ambitions? Sure. But if he can lift his team-mates to play at his level, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t be aiming that high.<\/p>\n
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