Newport Salvage Point With Last Gasp Pini Try

EDINBUGH 19, NEWPORT 19
Jason Strange pushed his final conversion just wide of the post and Newport lost out on their top spot in the Welsh/Scottish League at a wet and windy Myreside.
A last gasp try by international full back Matt Pini brought Newport back on level terms with Edinburgh, and made it three tries to one on the night for the Welsh side, but Strange couldn’t hit the mark with the vital kick.
While the black and ambers were picking up a point in Scotland, Llanelli were winning 16-3 at Ebbw Vale to move back to the top of the table and establish a two point cushion, although they have played two more games than Newport.
Edinburgh had first use of the strong wind and driving rain and Duncan Hodge notched the first points of the night with a ninth minute penalty.
But no sooner had the Scottish side taken the lead than they gifted Newport a try when centre Matthew Watkins picked up an interception and raced clear for a try which Strange converted.
Two more Hodge penalties gave the home side a 9-7 interval lead and Edinburgh extended their lead in the second half when Chris Paterson conjured up a moment of magic.
There seemed nowhere for the Scottish international wing to go, but somehow he manasged to weave his way past four men and race clear for a try which Hodge converted to put Edinburgh in the driving seat.
The Newport response came via a second try from scrum half Ofisa Tonu’u, which Strange again converted, but Hodge’s fourth penalty appeared to have secured the victory for Edinburgh.
Then came that Pini try four minutes into injury time to salvage something for Newport.
SCORERS: Edinburgh: Try: C Paterson; Con: D Hodge; Pens: D Hodge 4. Newport: Tries: M Watkins, O Tonu’u, M Pini; Cons: J Strange 2.