Glasgow seal home draw but but Bath end winning run
Draw enough for Warriors but Smith’s side must up their game
GLASGOW got the result they needed to ensure a home draw in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup, but it was a far from satisfactory performance as their run of seven consecutive wins came to an end.
Duncan Weir had a chance to snatch the victory for the home team with the last kick of the game, but while his team had arguably been just the better side throughout, a draw was a fair result given how much Bath had contributed. The mood afterwards was best summed up by man of the match Sione Tuipulotu, who said: “I’m not too pleased and I’m sure we’re going to cop it when we go in the sheds. It was no good tonight and we didn’t deserve to win.”
Even so, and while continuing that winning run would have been nice, the bottom line is that the Warriors did enough to go through from Pool A, in which they won their first three games. Now certain of a top- four finish in the pool, they will have to wait until tomorrow’s [ Sunday] final pool games in the Champions Cup to find out who they will meet in the knockout stages.
Glasgow went behind when former Edinburgh stand- off Piers Francis was on target with a straightforward penalty, given for an offside decision. But the home side recovered within a minute, as No 8 Matt Fagerson burst through a couple of half- hearted tackles to touch down just to the right of the posts. Tom Jordan converted.
In the next attack, however, Francis narrowed the gap with a second penalty. But the Warriors steadily got on top towards the mid- point of the half, and Sione Vailanu grabbed their second try from a lineout drive. Jordan’s conversion was on target again to put his side 14- 6 ahead.
Bath could have quickly narrowed the gap to five points when awarded a penalty close to halfway, but this time Francis failed to get a clean contact and his kick fell just short. The English club were not to be denied shortly afterwards, though. Awarded a scrum five after Ali Price had not managed to clear his lines, they scored all too easily off second phase. Scotland centre Cameron Redpath carried close to the line before being stopped, and then backrow forward Chris Cloete crashed over between the posts. Francis’ conversion made it a one- point game at the break.
Glasgow resumed play on the offensive, and were given a boost when Francis was yellow- carded for a dangerous tackle on Sione Tuipulotu. They thought they had taken advantage quickly when Johnny Matthews finished off from a lineout and Jordan added two more points with the conversion. But the score was chalked off by French referee Luc Ramos, who ruled that Matthews had not been in control.
That decision only riled the Warriors into redoubling their efforts, and after a ferocious drive through the middle, winger Sebastian Cancelliere scored in the right corner. Jordan’s conversion effort was just short this time.
Bath full- back Orlando Bailey landed a penalty just before the hour to keep his team well in contention at 19- 16 down. Then inside the final ten minutes, Glasgow replacement prop Simon Berghan was sent to the sinbin for collapsing a scrum, and Ben Spencer equalised with the penalty.
The visitors’ Tom Ellis was next to be shown a yellow card, for bringing down a maul, meaning both teams finished the game with 14 men. Weir had that last- gasp chance to win the match, but his penalty was just wide.
■ Glasgow have completed their disciplinary hearing with Rufus McLean and are now having follow- up discussions. They and Scottish Rugby expect to be able to complete the process and announce the outcome early next week. McLean, who has three Scotland caps, is currently suspended by the Warriors from all club activities after pleading guilty to a domesticabuse charge.