Glasgow Warriors edge Munster at home

Glasgow Warriors returned to winning ways in the BKT United Rugby Championship this evening, earning a bonus-point, 28-25 victory over Munster in front of a sold-out Scotstoun as the club marked the 10-year anniversary of its 2015 title-winners.

First half tries from George Horne – to draw level with DTH van der Merwe atop the club’s all-time try-scoring list – and Kyle Steyn were matched by Matt Fagerson and Nathan McBeth in the second, as the Warriors produced a final quarter comeback in front of the Warrior Nation.

With a sold-out Scotstoun in full voice, it was the visitors who started the game on the front foot, with Paddy Patterson directing play from the base of the breakdown. The Glasgow defensive line was up to the early test though, holding firm inside their own 22 to raise a roar of approval from the East Stand.

Yet despite having second-rower Fineen Wycherley shown a yellow card for dangerous play, it was Munster who were first to open the scoring. Turnover ball in midfield saw Andrew Smith race into space, before Tony Butler’s cross-kick allowed Sean O’Brien to send John Hodnett over for the score. Butler converted, and the visitors led 7-0 with 18 minutes on the clock.

The Irishmen were in control of both territory and possession as the clock ticked into the second quarter, and were rewarded with their second score just five minutes later. Having been the provider for Hodnett’s score, this time O’Brien applied the finishing touch himself by muscling over in the corner, Butler’s conversion attempt drifting wide to leave the score at 12-0 in the visitors’ favour.

Glasgow needed a response, and it arrived from a familiar source. A powerful burst from Ollie Smith in midfield saw the centre get the offload away brilliantly to Horne, who in turn fed the charging Stafford McDowall. The centre’s return pass to his scrum-half sent Horne scampering under the posts, Hastings converting to narrow the deficit.

Butler would add three more to Munster’s tally with seven minutes to play in the half to make it 15-7 to the visitors, only for the Warriors to strike in scintillating fashion just moments later. Superb interplay from Smith and McDowall saw the latter put skipper Steyn through a gap, and from halfway the winger had too much pace for the covering defence, scorching through to score. Hastings added the extras, making it a one-point game with 36 minutes gone.

The one-point deficit would remain until the interval, with Horne and Steyn within a fingertip of combining for a score that would have taken their team into the lead just two minutes after the restart. Instead, the first score of the second half went the way of the visitors, Butler making no mistake from directly in front the posts to make it 18-14 to the Irish province.

With a swirling cross-wind making conditions difficult for both sides, the hour mark came and went with no alteration to the score, though not for the want of trying by either squad. It would be Munster who would strike next, much to the chagrin of the Warrior Nation. Alex Nankivell’s offload saw O’Brien collect on the charge, the winger holding off the challenge of Johnny Matthews to touch down for his second – and Munster’s third – try of the evening. Butler converted well from the touchline, and the visitors led 25-14 with 15 minutes to play.

The next score had to be Glasgow’s, and with the Warrior Nation urging them on, the hosts duly delivered. Sebastian Cancelliere’s quickly-taken penalty caught the Munster defence flat-footed, before Sam Talakai fed the rampaging Fagerson to crash over from close-range. Hastings converted, and it was a one-score game once more.

With the atmosphere inside Scotstoun reaching fever-pitch, the Warriors raised their level once more. Penalty advantage in hand, the hosts clinically set about attacking the visitors’ try-line, and eventually the dam would burst. Whilst Matthews and Jack Mann were denied on successive carries, there was no denying McBeth as the loose-head prop found the crucial gap to dot down for his third try in as many matches. Hastings added the extras, crucially nudging his side in front with four minutes to play.

One final defensive stand was to seal the points for Franco Smith’s squad, a match-winning turnover penalty delivered by Gregor Brown to bring Scotstoun to its feet. Five points secured in the race for the playoffs as the Warriors start a three-game home stand – the Emirates Lions are next to arrive in Glasgow, as the club gets set to Plaster It Purple for Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity.