Connacht lose PRO14 opener narrowly after Glasgow kick late drop goal

01 September 2018

Connacht lose PRO14 opener narrowly after Glasgow kick late drop goal
Connacht 26

Glasgow Warriors 27

 

Connacht’s opening game of the Guinness PRO14 season ended in a one point defeat after Glasgow full back Stuart Hogg kicked a dramatic drop goal at the death of an exciting opening game of the season.

 

Glasgow got off to the best possible start with a try inside the opening two minutes when Tommy Seymour touched down after clever play from Hogg. Minutes later Jack Carty settled Connacht nerves with a penalty just outside the 22 to the right of the posts.

 

This was followed by an outstanding try from Cian Kelleher who was picked out perfectly with a cross field kick from Carty. Having taken the lead through Kelleher’s converted try, Connacht’s lead was to be short lived as Glasgow hooker George Turner found a gap and capitalised to get in for their second try of the game.

 

Connacht responded again with a well worked team try finished by Finlay Bealham and converted by Carty who had 16 points on the board when the teams retired for half team with Connacht leading 23 points to 17.

 

Early in the second half, Carty added another penalty and Connacht went into a nine point lead. Crucially they would not score again for the rest of the game. Glasgow continually applied the pressure in the second half and it looked like Connacht would hold on for victory when Adam Hastings was yellow carded for a high tackle on Caolin Blade.

 

With the out half in the bin it was Glasgow who capitalised on the scoreboard when Adam Ashe got over thanks to a driving maul. Hogg’s conversion left two points between the sides and his drop goal moments later won it for the visitors.

 

Craig Ronaldson did have one last chance penalty from a long distance out but with 81 minutes on the clock his effort shaved the post and there was time for no more.

 

Despite the narrow loss, Connacht have many positives to take from a game where fans in the Sportsground were treated to some really attacking and exciting rugby. Zebre are next up in the Sportsground on Saturday 8th of September.

CONNACHT – T O’Halloran (N Adeolokun 53), C Kelleher, K Godwin, T Farrell, M Healy, J Carty (C Ronaldson 67), C Blade (J Mitchell 75), D Buckley (P McCabe 53), D Heffernan (S Delahunt 75), F Bealham (C Carey 56), U Dillane, J Cannon (Q Roux 48), P Boyle, J Butler (Capt), E McKeon (C Gallagher 14).

 

GLASGOW WARRIORS - S Hogg, T Seymour, N Grigg, P Horne, DTH van der Merwe (N Matawalu 53), A Hastings, G Horne (N Frisby 48), O Kebble (A Allan 56), G Turner (F Brown48), Z Fagerson (D Rae 72) S Cummings (C Fusaro 52), J Gray, R Harley, C Gibbins, R Wilson (A Ashe 63).