Rampant Ulster take sorry Warriors apart
ULSTER 37 GLASGOW WARRIORS 17
GLASGOW’S title chances were dangling by a thread last night after yet another dismal Pro12 display.
Gregor Townsend’s depleted troops were punished for a torrent of blunders in Belfast.
Townsend last night admitted his gutted Glasgow got what they deserved in their Belfast bashing.
After watching Ulster leapfrog his men into the top five of the Pro12 play-off race, grim-faced Gregor declared: “We let them dictate things because we didn’t match them physically.
“We slipped off too many tackles which led to tries and the match slipped away from us.
“We got back into things at the end of the first half, only to make more mistakes after the interval.
“You can’t get away with being so inaccurate against a very good attacking team like Ulster.
“They had some very powerful runners out there.”
Now the woeful Warriors need to halt the slide and bring their European form to the league if they are to figure in the play-offs.
To add to their woes, winger Lee Jones was taken to hospital after being knocked unconscious in a first-half collision and Scotland ace Mark Bennett suffered suspected concussion.
Glasgow were under pressure during the opening sparring session – largely due to their own carelessness.
They were particularly fortunate to keep their line intact in the wake of a shocking midfield mix-up when they surrendered the ball in the danger zone.
Then when they failed to release in contact, up stepped veteran marksman Ruan Pienaar to edge Ulster in front from 40 metres.
Glasgow’s response was positive and centre Nick Grigg was blocked just short after latching on to a crash ball.
The attack was snuffed out when Henry Pyrgos sent a loose chip out of play.
And they paid dearly for their inaccuracy as Ulster broke upfield to create a try for Tommy Bowe.
Warriors – with virtually a whole team absent on Scotland duty – suffered a further blow midway through the half, with Jones being carried off and replaced by Rory Hughes.
Nothing was going Glasgow’s way and their plight deepened as Sean Reidy ploughed over for a second home touchdown, goaled by Pienaar.
Despite the 15-point deficit, Townsend’s side continued to play an expansive, highrisk game
And they earned a glimmer of hope on the stroke of the break as loan signing Brandon Thomson darted over.
The South African was, however, wide with the angled conversion bid.
Pienaar hit back with a penalty immediately after the restart after Adam Ashe was guilty of a late challenge.
And when substitute Jacob Stockdale cruised in under the crossbar, there was no way back for the Warriors.
Pienaar added the extras – then finished off a stunning move to clinch the bonus point.
The Glasgow grief continued with Rob Harley being harshly yellow carded for a flip-tackle.
But they refused to buckle completely, and Scott Cummings clawed back two tries in quick succession to restore some pride.
However, it was too little, too late to scupper Ulster and Stockdale notched his double.