Report: Glasgow v Connacht

Glasgow Warriors 21 Connacht Rugby 28

It was a glorious night under the Scotstoun sunshine as Connacht travelled to Glasgow to take on the reigning URC champions in a preseason friendly. It was the Irish side who came out on top however after a dominant first half performance and a strong defensive effort in the second half.

Connacht came out swinging in the first half with an early chance held up over the line.

But it didn’t take long for a score to come for the visitors as Dylan Tierney-Martin squeezed over at the bottom of the maul. Cathal Forde added the extras from the tee.

The hosts struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and Connacht took full advantage by setting up camp in their half.

Soon enough Glasgow struck back putting the visitors under pressure and Tom Jordan spots the gap and sails over the whitewash, on his second debut at Scotstoun Adam Hastings added the extras from the tee.

Just as soon as Glasgow found their rhythm, they lost it again with the Irishmen forcing them back up to their own five metre mark. It didn’t take long before Connacht found their way over the line through David O’Connor. 7-14 with five minutes to go.

Glasgow strike back straight away with a try of their own, another messy one with credit going to Angus Fraser and Hastings adds the extras. There was just no separating the two sides.

With the clock in the red Shayne Boulton dives over for a last minute try to put the visitors ahead at half time. Glasgow Warriors 14-21 Connacht.

This young Connacht side really got the bit between their teeth in the first half and kept pushing Glasgow, never allowing them to get into a comfortable rhythm.

Glasgow were the ones to come out swinging in the second half with a point to prove after a rocky first half with Connacht struggling to make it out of their own half.

Eventually Connacht found their feet sending Shayne Bolton over the line for a second time this evening, extending their lead to 14 points as Forde added the extras.

After a pretty quiet period Connacht found themselves on the front foot once more, but they were unable to keep the ball in hand to capitalise on those chance.

With seven minutes on the clock, Glasgow’s Josh McKay spots a gap and goes it alone, making it up to the Connacht 22 before Mack Hansen gets him down. It wasn’t long before Gregor Brown forced his way over the line. Tom Jordan adds the extras. 21-28 with six minutes left.

Glasgow with only one score in it found their feet and were gunning for a try to square things up in front of their home crowd but the Connacht defence were holding up well, refusing to be pushed back.

With 30 seconds on the clock the hosts had a lineout just outside the Connacht five metre mark, but it all goes wrong for the hosts at the maul as the Irishmen turn the ball over and Finn Treacy set off up the far side touchline. A miss step saw him end up in touch and that drew the game to a close. Full time Glasgow Warriors 21-28 Connacht.

It was a close game throughout with the two sides being almost inseparable for most of it, but Connacht came out on top with a dominant show in the first half and a great defensive effort in the second.

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