Munster power past Edinburgh
WHILE Glasgow suffered a defeat to Ulster in an incredibly physical match at Scotstoun on a dreich Friday night, the match highlighted some of the gaps between the Warriors and their counterparts at the other end of the M8. Most significantly, Scotstoun was sold out. Just over 7300 fans turned up to watch this pulsating match, played on the new surface which looked more like a snooker table than a rugby pitch, and they urged on their team until the final whistle.
Glasgow, encouraged by such a partisan and vociferous crowd, did their utmost but couldn’t sneak a last-minute victory.
Contrast that with the attendance at Murrayfield the previous weekend for Edinburgh’s match against Leinster, when around 2500 spectators turned up to watch the home team succumb to the Irish side.
Even when Murrayfield is half-full it is still a fairly soulless place to play, so the capital side will be looking forward to their move to Myreside in January where even a modest crowd will create more of an atmosphere for the players.
Yet the differences between the two teams go beyond the venue. Glasgow have worked hard to build a solid supporter base in a city which isn’t renowned for its support of the oval ball.
In fact, Glasgow fans come from far and wide to watch their team, eschewing an Edinburgh side which is closer and easier to get to. Edinburgh’s John Hardie grabs a second-half try. Weir added the extras. Worse was to come for the Munster stormed back and Scots after the restart as Conor the frailties of the Gunners’ Oliver brushed aside Weir to scrum were exposed again in notch the third home score – t h e i r ow n d a n g e r- z o n e, Bleyendaal again turning it leaving Conor Murray to claim into a seven-pointer. a simple touchdown. And the bonus- point try
Tyler Bleyendaal found the came during a period when target to equalise. Dell was sinbinned.
Munster stepped up the Flanker Dave O’Callaghan pace and, when Sam Hidalgoburst through – giving Clyne spilled the ball in Bleyendaal an easy kick. contact under his own bar, Gunners refused to buckle Murray pounced to complete and John Hardie pulled back a his quickfire double. touchdown.