Harley’s try keeps Warriors winning run on the road
ROB Harley’s late try ensured Glasgow Warriors’ winning start to the PRO14 campaign continued with a thrilling victory over Toyota Cheetahs.
Harley crashed over from Finn Russell’s expert kick, the last act in a game that went to-and-fro from almost first minute to last, featuring two teams on top form.
Callum Gibbins scored his first two tries for the Warriors, while Henry Pyrgos also got his name on the scoreboard in a bonus-point win.
But it wasn’t to all go the Scottish side’s way as Sergeal Petersen and Rosko Speckman, as well as an impeccable kicking effort from Ernst Stapelberg, kept the hosts fighting for the entire contest.
Glasgow wasted little time getting themselves on the board, winning a penalty with barely a minute on the clock from which Russell expertly put his side three points ahead.
But the Cheetahs came back with a bite, pinging the ball out to the touchline from a quick penalty where full-back Petersen was on hand to run in the first try of the evening.
And it was the hosts, defending a three-match
winning run, who next troubled the scoreboard with a penalty, but an intense spell of Warriors pressure had them back to parity as flanker Gibbins charged over for his side’s first score at 10-10.
It looked like that would be the half-time score, only for a superb length-of-thefield score leading to Speckman crashing over and putting the Cheetahs seven points ahead come the interval.
Callum Gibbins scored two tries in a Man of the Match performance-But the second half saw Gibbins become the man to once again do the damage – but he had plenty to thank Ruaridh Jackson for.
The full-back intercepted on his own try line to sprint away down-field, finding Gibbins in exactly the right place at the right time for the pass and score to make the game level once more.
That was how it stayed until the 57th minute mark but the Cheetahs poked their noses in front again, Stapelberg twice kicking penalties.
But, with just ten minutes to go, Glasgow showed exactly why they have been impeccable this season with some lovely play through the hands, the ball eventually finding Pyrgos to dot down and put his side ahead coming towards the denouement.
But the hosts were prepared for yet another twist in the tale, with Stapelberg getting his fourth penalty to tip the scales for the last time – or so we thought.
With just two minutes to go, up stepped Russell with a beautiful chip to the corner to allow Harley to crash over for the bonuspoint score and yet another victory on the road for the Scots.