Connacht hit the post as Glasgow edge opener
CRAIG RONALDSON’S lastminute kick penalty flew agonisingly through the air, but it hit the post, allowing Glasgow to leave Galway with an opening-day win for the third-year running.
Unlike the past two seasons, this wasn’t a dispiriting start by Connacht and most in the crowd of 5,329 will have left the Sportsground believing brighter days lie ahead in the Andy Friend era.
It is a pity they didn’t crown his first match with a victory.
They led an exciting game, which veered one way then the other, for most of the afternoon but Glasgow’s experience was telling.
Connacht were anxious to take their impressive preseason form into competitive action but coughed up a try after just over a minute when a chip from Stuart Hogg bounced kindly for Tommy Seymour to score down the right wing.
But Connacht refused to be rattled and settled into the contest with half-backs Jack Carty and Caolin Blade getting a foothold in the game.
Carty landed a penalty from 20 metres on the right and they edged in front when his perfectly measured crosskick was finished in the right corner by Cian Kelleher, with Carty’s conversion making it 10-5 after 16 minutes.
Hooker George Turner then ambled through a huge gap from a ruck to score, with Peter Horne’s conversion making it 12-10 to Warriors.
Another front-rower, tighthead prop Finlay Bealham then went over, with Carty’s conversion making it 17-12.
Glasgow showed commendable ambition to opt for a scrum from a penalty near the posts and were rewarded on the second reset when captain Ryan Wilson got over. But two Carty penalties made it 23-17 at the break.
Carty added another penalty just after the restart and when Glasgow out-half Adam Hastings was binned for a high tackle on Blade, the hosts were in control.
Yet Carty missed his first kick of the day and Connacht’s scoring was done.
Adam Ashe got a try for Glasgow that Hogg converted before the extrovert Scottish international gave his side the lead with a drop goal.
Connacht battled hard and with the final play forced a penalty but Ronaldson saw his 45-metre effort hit the post and Glasgow claimed victory. ConnaCht: O’Halloran (Adeolokun 53); Kelleher, Godwin, Farrell, Healy; Carty (Ronaldson 66), Blade (Mitchell 75); Buckley (McCabe 53), Heffernan (Delahunt 75, Bealham (Carey 56); Dillane, Cannon (Roux 48); Boyle, Butler, McKeon (Gallagher 14). scorers: Tries: Kelleher, Bealham; Cons: Carty 2; Pens: Carty 4. GlasGow: Hogg; Seymour, Grigg, Horne (Dunbar 56), Van Der Merwe (Matawalu 53); Hastings, Horne (Frisby 48); Kebble (Allan 56), Turner (Brown 48), Fagerson (Rae 72); Cummings (Fusaro 52, Wilson 79, blood), Gray; Harley, Gibbins, Wilson (Ashe 63). sCorers: Tries: Seymour, Turner, Wilson, Ashe; Cons: Hastings, Hogg; DG: Hogg. referee: Ian Davies (WRU).