Fast start, but Warriors made to fight for first win

GLASGOW Warriors held on for a crucial first PRO14 win of the season last night.

The home side got off to a flyer and took the lead in the sixth minute when skipper Callum Gibbins went over.

A good lineout throw was taken by back-row Bruce Flockhart and from the resultant drive Gibbins scored with stand-off Brandon Thomson converting.

Better was to come for Glasgow two minutes later when they scored a second try.

Thomson’s lovely pass set-up centre Nick Grigg to go through the middle and he fed scrum-half Nick Frisby for the score, Thomson converted and it was 14-0 to the hosts.

Cardiff were shellshocked, but they managed to shake themselves up and get into things after 11 minutes.

Their opening try came from winger Aled Summerhill and Jarrod Evans’ conversion made it 14-7.

The Blues were the next team on the scoresheet when Evans kicked a penalty in the 20th minute to make it 14-10.

At this point the home side were starting to give away too many penalties and that was giving Cardiff a foothold.

Just before the half hour, with Cardiff on the attack, it was their second-row Rory Thornton who took a man out in the air while they had an attacking line-out and was penalised.

With six minutes to go before the half-time break Glasgow full-back Ruaridh Jackson was tackled hard by Cardiff loosehead prop Bradley Thyer.

The Scotstoun crowd thought it was high and although there did not look to be arms used in the tackle, the referee did not refer the incident to his TMO. Then in the 38th minute Warriors second-row Rob Harley made a crucial turnover ten metres from his own line as the hosts took a four point lead into the break.

Like the first half, Glasgow started the second period well and after 43 minutes they extended their lead with a Thomson penalty.

Four minutes later the gap was back to four when Evans’ second penalty made it 17-13.

The Warriors were held up over the try line after a good forward drive and as the hour mark came and went the game was still in the balance.

With 18 minutes to go Cardiff earned another kickable penalty, but Evans was well short this time.

Seven minutes later Thornton was yellow carded for a tackle in the air and the hosts saw the game through.