Hero Hastings steals the show
DAVE RENNIE hailed star man Adam Hastings for his ‘mature performance’ last night as Glasgow Warriors made the Pro14 play-offs with six matches to spare.
It was a fly-half masterclass from Hastings, who showed he can be heir apparent to Finn Russell when he departs for Racing 92 in the summer.
Hastings, son of Scotland legend Gavin, ran the show against the Cheetahs, with clever kicks in behind, quick ball to his backs and superb game management.
‘I thought Adam controlled the game superbly, put us in the corners and allowed us to apply pressure down there,’ said Rennie. ‘It was a really mature performance from our team, especially Adam. There was a real intensity to that performance.’
Glasgow were missing their top names including Russell, Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour and Huw Jones, but still managed to overcome a full strength Cheetahs side.
It was a tight match, however, until replacement Henry Pyrgos ran in a long-range try with nine minutes left to make the game safe.
Other star performers were second row Tim Swinson, playing his first game since breaking his hand against Samoa in November, and scrum-half George Horne, who scored what was a superb team try.
Warriors centre Nick Grigg showed why he was unlucky not to be involved in Scotland’s Six Nations campaign with some powerful midfield runs.
Yet the Cheetahs had the upper hand early on, taking the lead after eight minutes through winger Malcolm Jaer, whose try was converted by fly-half Niel Marais.
Their lead only lasted two minutes. A clever pass from Hastings played in Niko Matawalu who ran a great angle before sliding in to score. Hastings put over the extras.
On 20 minutes, a superb Ruaridh Jackson try gave his side the lead. First he chipped ahead, hacked the ball further, then caught it on the bounce to score.
Hastings increased the lead with a penalty from in front of the posts before the visitors were gifted three points.
A rush of blood from Matawalu saw him try a crazy cross-kick from near his own line. The Cheetahs stole the ball before winning a penalty. Marais took full advantage to kick the three points.
Five minutes after the break, Marais cut the deficit to two points with a long-range penalty. Glasgow moved further ahead, though, after Hastings kicked to the corner and, from the driving line-out, tighthead prop Siosiua Halanukonuka went over.
The South African outfit were not out of it with Marias putting over another penalty to cut the deficit to four points.
Three minutes before the hour mark Glasgow picked up their fourth try and secured their bonus point. Matt Fagerson, Matawalu and Sam Johnson all linked up well to put in George Horne for his ninth try of the season. Hastings put over the conversion.
The Cheetahs got themselves back into the match after a miss pass from Shaun Venter put in Clayton Blommetjies in the corner. Marais again put over the extras. Just when things were getting a little tight for the hosts, Hastings put over a penalty to make it a sevenpoint game with 13 minutes left.
Then, with nine minutes to go, a great break from Grigg put Pyrgos in space. He put in a lung-bursting run for the converted try.
With Hastings pulling the strings, Glasgow showed they know how to close out games with a disciplined late display.
The same could not be said for Cheetahs who had their captain Francois Venter yellow carded in the last minute. SCORERS: GLASGOW — Tries: Matawalu, Jackson, Halanukonuka, G Horne, Pyrgos. Cons: Hastings (3). Pens: Hastings (2). CHEETAHS — Tries: Jaer, Blommetjies. Cons: Marais (2). Pens: Marais (3).