Magnificent Glasgow crowned URC champs

06/22/2024 02:23 PM

Glasgow Warriors produced a sensational second-half comeback to stun the Vodacom Bulls and earn the 2023-24 URC title in Pretoria on Saturday night.

Franco Smith’s brave Warriors scored 14 unanswered second-half points to come from behind and beat the Vodacom Bulls 21-16 in an enthralling final at a sold-out Loftus Versfeld.

The victory marked Glasgow’s second championship, the club’s first piece of major silverware since 2015.

It was an incredible effort from the Scottish side, who also beat defending champions Munster at a packed Thomond Park in Limerick in the semi-finals.

For the Vodacom Bulls, it was another final that ended in disappointment, as Jake White’s team finished URC runners-up for the second time, having also lost the inaugural final in 2022.

This time, however, the defeat will have an extra sting for the Bulls, not only because it came in front of over 50,000 fans, but also because the home side was in control of the game at half time.

A dominant first-half performance saw the Bulls race into a 13-0 lead, with Johan Goosen slotting two penalties before Marco van Staden charged over for the opening try of the final.

At that stage, the Bulls were dominating territory, possession and the set-piece battle, but were let down by their game management and decision making in try-scoring positions, which prevented them from adding to their lead.

Glasgow clawed back into the contest towards the end of the half and gave themselves a boost before heading into the changerooms when lock Scott Cummings reached over from short range, reducing the deficit to just six points at the break.

The message posted above the tunnel at Loftus Versfeld reminds the visiting team that altitude matters, but it was the Bulls who faded badly in the second half, as Glasgow started to win the kicking battle and control territory better than they had in the first half.

While Goosen added another penalty, Glasgow kept ramming the wall and deservedly got a try from a massive driving maul, with replacement hooker George Turner going over.

From there, the game belonged to the visitors as Huw Jones finished off a lovely flowing move, with the former DHL Stormers centre receiving an inside pass from South African-raised wing and Glasgow captain Kyle Steyn.

The Bulls did receive more than enough opportunities to snatch the game at the death, but contributed to the defeat when they conceded a penalty for a dangerous cleanout just outside Glasgow’s 22, before Goosen rushed a penalty kick to touch, which bounced over the dead ball line.

Still, there was one last opportunity for the hosts, as Tom Jordan was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle, leaving Glasgow defending the tryline from five metres out with 14 men in the last play.

While Akker van der Merwe found his jumper, Glasgow produced a magnificent counter-shove to stop the Bulls one metre short, hold the ball up and in doing so, clinch the URC title.

Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix

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