URC: gritty Glasgow hold off late Connacht fightback

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Glasgow Warriors 22

Connacht 19

STUART BATHGATE @ Scotstoun

DESPITE being deprived of 22 players between injury and internationals, Glasgow put in a gritty performance that was just good enough to see off Connacht. A strong wind held sway over the first half, heavy rain dampened the second, but in the circumstances it was an excellent result, one which consolidates second place in the URC as the league goes into a two-week break.

True, the conclusion was a touch anxious after a Connacht try closed the Warriors’ lead to three points. But the home team handled that well by going back on the offensive, and although they failed to score a bonus-pointy try, they did enough over the piece to leave Franco Smith fairly satisfied.

"The only thing that I’m displeased with is the last try that we conceded,” the head coach said. “We worked so hard to not give away that try, so that was unfortunate. 

"But I think the weather conditions and the quality of the Connacht team must definitely be taken into consideration if we're talking about the quality of our performance. I think if the weather hadn't been as bad there would have been more in us, especially from an attacking perspective."

Connacht dominated the game’s opening stages, but it was Glasgow who drew first blood when Duncan Weir was on target with a penalty from just inside the visitors' 10-metre line. It was uncharacteristic of the Warriors to go for goal rather than send the ball to touch, but in the end, with only three points between the teams, it proved to be a prescient decision.

Connacht soon resumed their offensive after that minor setback, and although solid defence from the likes of Henco Venter repulsed them for a time, eventually they got off the mark. Ollie Smith, back from a long-term injury for his first Warriors game in 13 months, had a clearance charged down by Dave Hawkshaw. The centre followed up and touched down in the right corner for an unconverted try. 

Curiously enough, after being under pressure for so long, the Warriors needed only three minutes to reply with a try of their own. Venter broke on halfway after a guddled Connacht lineout, Ben Afshar took the move deep into Connacht territory, and eventually Cancelliere used his speed to finish off. Weir’s conversion made it 10-5.

Just past the half-hour mark, that became 17-5 as Glasgow got their second try.  Fin Richardson broke from midfield, Alex  Samuel took the move on, and then Afshar did the rest. The scrum-half was tackled short of the line, but he had the momentum needed to reach out and touch down. Weir converted.

Connacht needed the next score, and they got it two minutes into the second half when Hawkshaw scored his second at the end of a passing move involving Hanrahan and Byron Ralston. Hanrahan converted to close the gap to five points, but then sent a penalty crashing back off a post.

Glasgow responded just short of the hour mark with their third try, Cancelliere's second of the day. First Smith made the half-break, and then, with advantage being played, Sam Talakai and Jack Mann took the move on before the wing finished off.

Weir was off target with the conversion attempt, but Glasgow ran the clock down well after that until, with a few minutes to go, Piers O'Conor finished off after a good break. Hanrahan converted.

The Warriors ended the match on the front foot in search of the bonus-point try. They dd not get it, but in such trying conditions, three tries and a four-point victory was a more than satisfactory poutcome.

Teams – 

Glasgow: J McKay; S Cancelliere, O Smith, D Munn, F Cordero; D Weir (captain), B Afshar; P Schickerling (N McBeth 52), J Matthews (G Stewart 72), F Richardson (S Talakai 52), E Ferrie, A Samuel, A Miller (A Fraser 60), H Venter, J Mann.

Connacht: S Cordero (J Carty 72); C Mullins, P O'Conor, D Hawkshaw, B Ralston (F Treacey 59); JJ Hanrahan, C Blade (M Devine 56); P Dooley (J Duggan 63), D Heffernan (D Tierney-Martin 63), J Aungier (S Illo 56), D O'Connor (O Dowling 63), J Joyce (captain), J Murphy, S Hurley-Langton, S Jansen (P Boyle 56).

Scorers – 

Glasgow: Tries: Cancelliere 2, Afshar. Cons: Weir 2. Pen: Weir.

Connacht: Tries: Hawkshaw 2, O'Conor. Cons: Hanrahan 2. 

Scoring sequence (Glasgow first): 3-0; 3-5; 8-5; 10-5; 15-5; 17-5 HT; 17-10; 17-12; 22-12; 22-17; 22-19.

Referee: Adam Jones (Wales).

Attendance: 6,277.

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