Connacht comeback falls short in Glasgow

GLASGOW got the defence of their Guinness PRO12 title back on track, but made desperately hard work of it against a fired-up Connacht side that claimed losing and try-scoring bonus points. Pat Lam’s side staged a remarkable comeback after trailing by 30-6 early in the second half. The hosts did most of the damage in the first half when their ability to get the ball wide at every opportunity meant Connacht barely saw the ball after the opening exchanges. That had been enough for the Irish side to take the lead from the first scrum, but Glasgow edged in front with Rory Clegg putting over three penalties before they started to really rub in their advantage with a pair of tries. Their grip on the game looked secure early in the second half when Rob Harley was handed a gift of a run-in. But when Connacht’s John Cooney was awarded a penalty try and then Danie Poolman (right) won the race for a kick into space, it was game on. Nepia Fox-Matamua brought the scores to within a point late on but Glasgow held on.

GLASGOW: G Bryce, Bulumakau (Wright 45), Murchie (Blake 15), Lyle, Jones, Clegg, Blair, Allan (K Bryce 49), MacArthur (Yanuyanutawa 49), Cusack (Eddie 67), Cummings, Low, Harley, Fusaro (Holmes 52), Ashe, K Bryce (Fagerson 49). Yellow card: Fagerson 57.

Scorers — Tries: Bryce, Cummings, Harley. Cons: Clegg 3. Pens: Clegg 4.

CONNACHT: O’Halloran (Ronaldson 78), Poolman, Parata (O’Lear 73), Aki, Carr, Carty, J Cooney (Marmion 49), Buckley (J Cooney 69), McCartney (Heffernan 77), Ah You (Bealham 65), Roux (Marshall 50), Browne (Dillane 66), Muldoon, Fox-Matamua, Masteron.

Scorers — Tries: Cooney, Poolman, Fox-Matamua, Penalty Try. Cons: Carty 3. Pens: Carty 2.

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU).