The Sunday Post (Inverness)

Honest Finn holds his hands up over blunder

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Bleyendaal responded instantly from close quarters following obstructio­n by Josh Strauss on Conor Murray.

The penalty ping-pong continued – but Hogg pushed his next strike past the post.

Warriors began the second half at full tilt with Hogg almost sneaking in for a try.

Then muscle- man Tim Swinson was blocked just short – his run setting up an easy penalty for Russell.

But yet again Bleyendaal wasted no time in equalising.

Russell also took his tally to three on the hour-mark as the tension-level heightened.

Then came a pivotal moment as Hogg was sent to the sin-bin for a foul challenge in his own 22- zone. And within seconds, Saili cashed in for the clincher. A dejected Finn Russell troops off at

full-time at Scotstoun last

night. massive clearance. Long- range specialist Blair Kinghorn then teed up a pot at goal from his own half. He struck it crisply, but the ball drifted just wide.

Gunners kept up the momentum to create an excellent try in the 25th minute.

Lock Fraser McKenzie timed his angled run to perfection, slicing through the home defensive line with power and precision. Weir added the extras to provide a further boost.

There was a setback, however, as Scotland prop Willem Nel – making his return from injury – was forced off for a concussion check.

Weir returned to the spotlight with another penalty on the half- hour mark, when England full-back Mike Brown was guilty of failing to release the ball in contact – only to see Swiel find the target at the other end almost immediatel­y.

Swiel was handed another opportunit­y in stoppage time, but was wayward this time.

Quins raced out of the traps after the restart and only fine defensive work from Weir and Sean Kennedy stemmed the tide.

Having weathered the mini- storm, Gunners replied in potent fashion.

The strung together a series of phases and handling moves which created the space and time for sub Allan Dell to gallop over.

Weir’s kick was spot-on as the gap stretched to 14 points going into the final quarter.

And the playmaker made sure of the win by taking his penalty tally to three.

However, the home brigade snatched two late scores through Joe Gray to salvage a consolatio­n point.

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