Connacht’s European dream on the rocks
GLASGOW gave themselves a huge boost ahead of next week’s European Champions Cup quarter-final against Saracens by seeing off Connacht at Scotstoun.
Home lock Tim Swinson was shown a red card after 65 minutes but Glasgow still secured a 35-24 win in the PRO12 clash.
It allows the sixth-placed Scots to pull clear of Connacht, the team directly behind them, and lifts their hopes of squeezing into the top four.
Eight days before the clash with Saracens at Allianz Park, the sight of Sean Lamont galloping in from 30 metres to touch down for a bonus-point try late on capped a successful encounter
For Connacht, the defeat hits their prospects of making a late run to earn a place in next season’s Champions Cup.
The visitors had led 15-13 at the break and although Connacht’s Craig Ronaldson kicked a second penalty soon after the restart, Glasgow took the lead with Finn Russell finishing at the posts and then converting. Five minutes later Connacht’s Jack Carty received a yellow card for a high tackle on Pete Horne. From the penalty, taken as a scrum, Ali Price scored and Russell converted. Swinson’s red card was followed by Ronaldson kicking a penalty to ease Connacht closer, but the home team had a final push to come. Horne kicked a penalty, and although Cooney responded in kind, Lamont sprinted to the line two minutes from time.