Glasgow (15) 25
Try: Vernon Cons: Parks Pens: Parks 5 Drop-goal: Parks

Edinburgh (12) 12
Pens: Paterson 4

Glasgow were too strong for a colourfully dressed Edinburgh side

Dan Parks shrugged off the speculation surrounding his future to turn in a match-winning display as Glasgow proved too strong for rivals Edinburgh.

Becoming the first player in Magners League history to reach 1,000 points, Parks kicked 20 points to lift his side to the top of the table.

The home side pulled away in the second half thanks to a powerful surge and try from the impressive Richie Vernon.

Edinburgh were toothless in attack and posed little threat.

Parks is widely reported to have agreed a move to Cardiff Blues in the summer but the stand-off showed nothing but total commitment to the Glasgow cause with a masterful display of kicking.

His accuracy in front of the posts was impressive, while his positional play was assured throughout.

Glasgow were organised in all departments, with the pack functioning well, although head coach Sean Lineen will be concerned that Edinburgh were still in the game at the interval.

Chris Paterson knocked over four penalties in the first half to ensure his side were just 15-12 behind.

But the visitors, wearing a garish 'neon' kit for the occasion, which doubles as the two-legged 1872 Cup, lacked inspiration and were ragged at set-plays.

Cheered on by a crowd just shy of 9000, the highest ever for Glasgow home tie, Lineen's men were on the front foot from the off and Edinburgh had to defend desperately deep in their own half.

Parks shows off his award for passing 1000 Magners League points

Wave after wave of Glasgow attacks were repelled - Vernon and Thom Evans were held up short, while a video referee decision went against Jon Welsh - so the home side had to be content with four penalties and a drop-goal from Parks in the first 40 minutes.

Edinburgh's stout rearguard was finally breached midway through the second half when Vernon bagged his first touchdown for Glasgow.

The powerful number eight showed good hands to gather from a scrum and charged on through the opposing ranks to slither across the try-line, with Dave Callam's valiant tackle insufficient to half his momentum.

Parks converted in style from the tightest of angles and Edinburgh heads went down until a late rally, which the home side saw off without too much difficulty.

Edinburgh host the second leg next weekend and will need a markedly improved performance to have any chance of turning round a 13 point deficit.

Glasgow head coach Sean Lineen:
"It wasn't a pretty game but derbies rarely are. It's all about winning and both teams got stuck in.

"We could have put a few more points on the board but I'm really happy with the result.

"The banter between Edinburgh and Glasgow is always good and the guys just wanted to make a statement.

"They will come out all guns blazing (in the return) and there were a few verbals straight after the game…"

Glasgow: B Stortoni, DTH van der Merwe, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans, D Parks, C Cusiter, J Welsh, D Hall, M Low, A Kellock (captain), R Gray, K Brown, J Barclay, R Vernon.

Edinburgh: C Paterson (captain), J Houston, B Cairns, N De Luca, T Visser, P Godman, G Laidlaw, A Jacobsen, R Ford, G Cross, S Turnbull, S MacLeod, A MacDonald, R Grant, S Newlands.

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