Advertisement
John Cooney had an eventful night. Russell Cheyne/INPHO
Leaky defence

Connacht stage dramatic comeback to claim two bonus points against the Pro12 champs

A 65-point thriller at Scotstoun.

Glasgow Warriors 33

Connacht 32

CONNACHT CAME FROM 24 points behind in Scotstoun this evening to claim two bonus-points from the Glasgow Warriors, but the reigning champions just got over the line in a classic.

Trailing 30-6 just after half-time, Pat Lam’s side ran in four second half tries, but Glasgow’s defence held firm in the final moments to claim their first win of the season.

After Glasgow had infringed at the scrum, Jack Carty kicked Pat Lam’s side into an 8th minute lead, but the champions were soon level, Rory Clegg splitting the posts with a penalty of his own.

Clegg added two more penalties to give them a cushion, before fullback Glenn Bryce found a cavernous gap in the centre of the Connacht defence to run through for a try just after the half hour mark.

glenn bryce

However, there was still time for Connacht’s half to get even worse, as Scott Cummings somehow managed to swat aside several attempted tackles to crash over, Clegg once again making no mistake with the extras.

Jack Carty managed to pull back three points with a penalty with the final kick of the half, but went in at the break trailing Glasgow 23-6.

Things got even worse for Connacht as soon as the second half started, with Glasgow scoring a try that summed up their first 41 minutes. John Cooney attempted a routine box kick, but after he slipped on the greasy Scotstoun sod, Rob Harley cruised in for the third try, and a 30-6 lead.

harley

But suddenly Connacht woke up, and with their scrum firing on all cylinders, it became the foundation for their comeback.

First Cooney was able to make amends for his earlier slip, Carty’s conversion making it 30-13, before Warriors prop Zander Fagerson was yellow-carded, after a series of scrum offences.

With the numerical advantage, Connacht powered through at the scrum once more, eventually winning a penalty try, which Carty once more converted.

The comeback was really on minutes later, as 21-year-old centre Rory Parata – on just his second start – grubbered a beautiful kick down the channel for Danie Poolman to run on to, and make it a five point game.

poolman

However with Fagerson back on the pitch, Glasgow appeared to have weathered the storm, and another Clegg penalty made the gap eight points with 10 to play.

But with four minutes to play, a rolling maul saw Nepia Fox-Matamua touch down to set up a dramatic finale.

Fox-Matamua

The try had secured Lam’s side a four-try bonus point and potentially a losing point, but they went in search of the winning score to cap off a memorable second half.

Ultimately it wasn’t to be, the Warriors holding on claim the cliche game of two halves by the narrowest of margins.

Glasgow Warriors scorers:Tries: Glenn Bryce, Scott Cummings, Rob Harley (1 each) 

Conversions: Rory Clegg (3 from 3)

Penalties: Rory Clegg (4 from 4)

Connacht scorers:

Tries: John Cooney, Penalty Try, Danie Poolman, Nepia Fox-Matamua (1 each)

Conversions: Jack Carty (3 from 4)

Penalties: Jack Carty (2 from 2)

Glasgow Warriors: Glenn Bryce; Junior Bulumakau,Peter Murchie (capt), Fraser Lyle, Lee Jones; Rory Clegg, Mike Blair; Alex Allan, Pat MacArthur, Mike Cusack, Scott Cummings, Kieran Low, Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Adam Ashe.

Replacements: Kevin Bryce, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Zander Fagerson, James Eddie, Tyrone Holmes, Hugh Blake, Grayson Hart, Scott Wight.

Connacht: Tiernan O’Halloran, Danie Poolman, Rory Parata, Bundee Aki, Matt Healy, Jack Carty, John Cooney; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Rodney Ah You, Quinn Roux, Andrew Browne, John Muldoon (captain), Nepia Fox-Matamua, Eoghan Masterson

Replacements: Dave Heffernan, JP Cooney, Finlay Bealham, Ultan Dillane, Ben Marshall, Kieran Marmion, Craig Ronaldson, Fionn Carr

Sale Sharks have just announced a signing with the most dramatic video ever

A former Irish prop explains just how different tighthead prop is from loosehead

Your Voice
Readers Comments
25
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.