Nairn’s late double secures the spoils for pacy Warriors
GLASGOW headed the words of coach Dave Rennie by coming out and delivering a high pace performance that Connacht couldn’t live with.
South African fly-half Brandon Thomson pulled the strings of an excellent backline as Warriors, missing 21 players, narrowed the gap on Munster at the top of Conference A to one point.
Rennie said: “I’m always nervous when we start quick in case the boys will think it’s easier than it really is but it was a really good performance, really clinical.
“We executed nicely from kick-off, 10 minutes in we were up 10-5 but hadn’t really built any pressure, gave away some soft penalties. The rest of the game was pretty good, got to the right end of the field, was patient and scored. I’m really happy with some of the young boys. We’ve picked up 14 points with the internationals out and that’s important.”
Glasgow injected pace into the game through their lively backs straight from the first whistle and within 45 seconds had a try. George Horne whipped the ball quickly crossfield from a ruck on the half-way and winger Kyle Steyn went past several defenders before offloading back to Horne to run in.
Warriors defence, led by hooker Grant Stewart and lock Tim Swinson, then held out phases of Connacht’s attack before a wonky ten-metre lineout cost the Irishmen.
Glasgow took possession and Steyn kicked long to move play to the other end but Connacht No.9 Kieran Marmion, on his first start
since November and playing his 150th game, snuck through the Warriors line but was halted on the line by Ruaridh Jackson.
After Thomson grabbed another three points, Glasgow wing Niko Matawalu excellently caught the restart and cleared through four players looking good to score but for obstruction.
Wing Stephen Fitzgerald scored for Connacht but Glasgow hit back with a driving maul and Swinson dotted down.
Stewart added another from a catch-and-drive just before the break, which saw Connacht lock James Cannon sin-binned for bringing down a maul.
Stewart then grabbed the bonus-point after utilizing a gap in defence from another line-out.
No sooner had Connacht replacement Paul Boyle scored from well-worked phase-play did outsidecentre Robbie Nairn score after a break by centre partner Stafford McDowall.
Connacht’s centres Kyle Godwin and Tom Daly linked well to pull one back but any hope of a try bonus point ended with Nairn’s second, while the Galwaybased side’s losing streak at Scotstoun since 2012 continues.
Connacht coach Andy Friend said: “Glasgow were much more comprehensive than we were, we lacked intensity and accuracy. As the game went on, the great confidence Glasgow got out of our inaccuracy and we the better football team.”