Hugh Campbell was disappointed with Glasgow's performance

The hosts trailed for the whole match, before snatching victory with a last flourish in which the forwards made their strength tell against 13-man Glasgow.

The visitors wanted a win to seal their return to the Heineken Cup, but the bonus point they gained for finishing within seven points, and the Borders’ heavy defeat in Wales, combined to open up a five-point gap, and with Glasgow holding a far better points differential that will be enough.

Hugh Campbell, the Glasgow coach, said: "I’m not pleased the Borders lost, because that’s not good for Scottish rugby, but the key objective was to qualify for the Heineken Cup and there is something to build on next season.

"I think it was a very poor performance tonight from both teams. There was a huge amount of effort, but the quality of rugby just wasn’t there although the conditions made it difficult for the expansive rugby we both want to play."

With both sides rattling up an incredible error count and struggling to find continuity, there were few periods of excitement, the first coming with 12 minutes of the first half remaining and ending with Sam Pinder scoring the first try.

Ironically, it came after the Glasgow scrum-half’s series of shocking passes had rolled his side back 50 metres without losing possession, but he made amends when he nipped through a gap in the home defence 15 metres out and in behind the posts to make Parks’ conversion easy.

Edinburgh responded with a determined burst into the Glasgow half, and when Donnie Macfadyen was penalised at a ruck Warnock drilled the penalty kick to the corner flag. The lineout was taken in and No 8 Andy Dall finished.

Warnock missed the conversion and then a penalty to leave the visitors 7-5 ahead at the break. Parks kept the scoreboard turning with a penalty and though Edinburgh did seem to have more confidence and composure in attack, their inability to retain possession saw them struggle to threaten.

Simon Webster, under pressure, threw a wild pass infield to Parks, who ran in for the try before converting the gift.

Edinburgh finally fired themselves up, Tom Philip exploded through the Glasgow defence on the 22 and, found Marcus Di Rollo, who dived in under the posts, allowing Warnock an easy conversion.

Todd Blackadder retired from the fray with a knee injury - while Glasgow lost Sean Lamont and Joe Beardshaw to the sin-bin as the game drew to its dramatic close, with Joel Brannigan scoring a minute after coming on and Warnock slotting a fine conversion from the right touchline.

Report by David Ferguson of The Scotsman