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Faletau stars as Cardiff top URC, Edinburgh earn first win in style
By PA
EDINBURGH STORM TO BONUS-POINT WIN
Dylan Richardson and Darcy Graham grabbed two tries each as Edinburgh beat Benetton 43-0 at the Hive Stadium to seal their first United Rugby Championship win of the season.
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Back row Richardson and Scotland team-mate Graham both went over in each half as Edinburgh notched a bonus point in their first home game of the season – and there were also tries for Duhan van der Merwe, Piers O’Conor and captain Magnus Bradbury.
Edinburgh raced into a 14-0 lead inside the opening 12 minutes as quick hands out wide sent Scotland wing Van der Merwe racing in for a brilliant try before back-row Richardson crashed over from close range. Both were converted by Cammy Scott.
Darcy Graham raced in at the corner for Edinburgh’s third try before the interval, which Scott superbly converted from the touchline to give the home side a commanding 21-0 lead.
Benetton centre Malakai Fekitoa was sent to the sin-bin soon after the restart for his no-arms tackle on Scott, who was forced off for a head injury assessment and replaced by Ross Thompson.
Richardson went over for his second try to clinch Edinburgh their bonus point and after O’Conor scored his first Edinburgh try, number eight Bradbury bulldozed over and Graham raced in for the final score.
TAULUPE FALETAU INSPIRES CARDIFF DERBY WIN
Taulupe Faletau made a try-scoring return from injury as Cardiff beat Dragons 24-17 in the Welsh derby.
The Wales number eight, on his first appearance of the season following a calf injury, took just 13 minutes to make his mark.
Dragons were looking for a first win over Cardiff in over a decade but got off to a bad start when Alex Mann was pushed over by the visiting pack after just 58 seconds.
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They hit back five minutes later and led by two points following Brodie Coughlan’s try and Tinus de Beer’s conversion.
But Faletau’s try handed the initiative back to Cardiff and Dan Thomas became the third member of the back-row trio to score as they forged 10 points ahead at half-time.
Prop Danny Southworth’s score just after the hour mark secured the bonus point for Cardiff before Ben Carter’s try and a late Angus O’Brien penalty gave the Dragons fans something to cheer in an underwhelming second half.
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