Dax post 10-try European warning

Dax 69 Edinburgh 1

Dax delivered a warning to their Heineken European Cup rivals Bath and Pontypridd with a 10-try demolition of Edinburgh yesterday.

Richard Dourthe, enjoying an altogether happier experience against British opposition than when he was cited and subsequently suspended during the last Five Nations' Championship for kicking Ben Clarke in the head, led the way with three tries from full-back as Dax showed an ability to turn defence quickly into attack.

The Edinburgh back division, denied the experience of Scott Hastings, who failed a fitness test, were outclassed. Though inclined to take risks by putting the ball through the backline from behind their own line, Dax looked to be a well-organised side under the leadership of the former French captain Olivier Roumat. Intelligent running off the ball meant possession was rarely squandered.

Edinburgh's forwards refused to throw in the towel although some flagged badly in the heat. Among those quickest to capitalise for Dax was the powerful flanker Olivier Magne, whose 13th-minute try from a maul - and the first of eight converted by Dourthe - overturned Edinburgh's early six-point lead.

When the outside-half Mathieu Dourthe rounded off a slick handling move moments later, Edinburgh's challenge effectively ended. Dourthe added another two tries before half-time, which Dax reached 31-9 in front.

Edinburgh managed to stem the tide for long periods in the second half but fell away towards the end as the heat once more took its toll. Dax then switched their attacks out wide to allow the wings Ugo Mola and Patrice Labeyrie in on the scoring spree. Edinburgh's Alan Watt and Graham Dall were led from the field looking groggy while the scrum-half Graham Burns was replaced after requiring stitches in a leg gash.

Dax also rang the changes but by contrast they merely appeared to be giving players some European experience before the tougher challenges which lie ahead.

Dax: Tries R Dourthe 3, M Dourthe 2, Magne 2, Labeyrie 2, Mola; Conversions R Dourthe 8; Penalties R Dourthe. Edinburgh: Penalties Hodge 4.

Dax: R Dourthe; U Mola, P Giordani, F Duberger (L Lageyre, 70), P Labeyrie; M Dourthe, J Daret; W Rebeyrotte, T Rechou (F Dupleichs, 46), O Gouaillard, (D Laperene, 50), F Lalanne, O Roumat (capt), O Magne, F Pelous (R Ibanez, 45), R Berek.

Edinburgh: D Lee; S Reed, C Simmers, D Laird, S Lang; D Hodge, G Burns (G Beveridge, 72); A Watt (R McNulty, 79), G Ellis, B Stewart, P Jennings, A Lucking, B Ward, D Clark, G Dall (capt; M Blair, 76).

Referee: L Mayne (Ireland).