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Edinburgh make it back-to-back European Challenge Cup wins by thumping Agen 27-6 in France on Friday
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Penalty try plus eight points from Greig Tonks boot give Edinburgh a 13-0 lead at the break
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The Black and Red Army put the game to bed through tries from Cornell Du Preez and John Hardie in the second half
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Captain Clement Darbo scored the hosts six points from the tee
Edinburgh go top of Pool Five after cruising to a first away win since September against Agen in the European Challenge Cup on Friday evening.
The Pro12 side, who lost to Gloucester in last season’s final, have shown they are hungry to go one further this campaign and are now top their pool after winning both of their opening games.
Edinburgh though would have been slightly disappointed not to have found a fourth try, which would have ensured the Black and Red Army headed back to the Scottish capital with maximum points.
This failure means London Irish could leapfrog them to go top of the group if they overcome FC Grenoble tomorrow while Agen, who also sit bottom of the Top 14, prop up the group.
Two sweetly-struck penalties from fly-half Greig Tonks gave Edinburgh the perfect start and a six-point lead in the opening half hour before the Scottish visitors were awarded a penalty try after 34 minutes. The heavy Edinburgh pack forced the decision as the hosts were continuously undisciplined at scrum-time due to the overwhelming power of the visitors’ forwards.
Tonks continued his 100 per cent record from the tee with the conversion and although Edinburgh weren’t able to turn their constant pressure into anymore points, they still held a satisfactory lead at half-time, 0-13.
The Black and Red Army though were able to put the game to bed when they touched down their second try just nine minutes after the restart. John Hardie made a fantastic initial break before offloading to Cornell Du Preez, who with an Agen player on his back made it over the line before forcing the ball down for his fourth try in his last three games.
Tonks continued his impeccable performance from the tee to give the Scottish side a 20-point lead.
The hosts then got on the board through a pair of penalties from skipper Clement Darbo but it proved just consolation as John Hardie dived over for the visitors third try following a rolling maul after 70 minutes. Tonks again added the extras to complete the win and the scoring, 6-27.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Edinburgh: John Hardie
The New Zealand-born Scotland international has already proved to be a great purchase for Edinburgh, adding some steel to their scrum while he can also really play with the ball in hand as he regularly gets over the gainline. The 27-year-old, part of arguably one of the best, 6, 7, 8 combinations in the Challenge Cup this year, once again proved his quality with a try and an assist for his evenings work.
Agen: Francois Tardieu, Leka Tagotago, Pierre Fouyssac, Julien Heriteau, Filipo Nakosi, Francois Bouvier, Clement Darbo (capt); Quentin Bethune, Marc Barthomeuf, Nicolas Chocou, Jean-Baptiste Roidot, Leo Bastien, Sione Tau, Antoine, Miquel, Marc Baget.
Replacements: Florian Dufour, Viliamu Afatia, Dave Ryan, Corentin Braendlin, Felicien Vergnon, Baptiste Cadiou, Timothe Guillimin, Benoit Sicart.
Edinburgh: Dougie Fife, Tom Brown, Will Helu, Matt Scott, Otulea Katoa, Greig Tonks, Sean Kennedy; Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (capt), WP Nel, Anton Bresler, Fraser McKenzie, Nasi Manu, John Hardie, Cornell Du Preez.
Replacements: Neil Cochrane, Rory Sutherland, Simon Berghan, Alex Toolis, Jamie Ritchie, Nathan Fowles, Blair Kinghorn, Chris Dean.
Date: Friday, November 20
Venue: Stade Armandie
Kick-off: 18:30