GLASGOW 12 LEINSTER 6
Townsend’s men repel late storm to earn hard-fought win at Scotstoun.
GLASGOW Warriors maintained their charge towards the end-of-season Guinness PRO12 Play-offs with this hard-fought win over Leinster at Scotstoun.
These two sides, when at their best, are arguably the two most-entertaining in the league, but, with each having 11 men on international duty, this was never likely to be a free-flowing match. The fact Glasgow’s backs went down like ninepins also mitigated against a try-fest, but, in what became a penalty kicking competition, the returning Rory Clegg had the measure of Isa Nacewa, leaving Leinster with only a losing bonus point while Glasgow took all four for the win.
The first half was something of an arm wrestle, with the respective defences on top. The teams turned round all-square, after returning Warrior Rory Clegg, back at Scotstoun after his short sojourn in France with Oyanaax and Leinster skipper Isa Nacewa both kicked two penalties.
Nacewa had opened the scoring in three minutes, with a simple penalty, but Glasgow, who lost winger Rory Hughes with a head knock in 11 minutes, levelled in 14 minutes, Clegg scoring an equally straightforward penalty.
The stand-off then kicked the hosts ahead, three minutes later, after Leinster infringed in halting a typical Leone Nakarawa charge.
However, with neither side able to string together some constructive rugby the only other first half score was an equalising penalty from Nacewa, penalising side entry from Glasgow at a ruck inside their own 22.
With the final kick of the half, Nacewa missed a great chance to send his side in at the break with a narrow lead, but, he missed a kick which it seemed would have been easier to convert. This was the second let-off the home side had in the half. In 27 Minutes, Dave Kearney had produced the period’s single moment of inspiration, with a great solo run up the left. Leinster kept the move going, but Cathal Marsh’s wild long pass bounced into touch.
Glasgow’s Sam Johnson had gone off injured in 34 minutes, giving young centre Nick Grigg his debut, and, at the break, the home team had to make a third injury-induced change, when skipper Peter Murchie remained indoors. This meant a reshuffle, with Ali Price coming on at scrum-half, Bryce going to full-back and Grayson Hart on to the wing.
The re-cast Warriors forced their visitors back from the restart and Leinster’s defence was given a severe test, which they largely survived, before, in 51 minutes, a Leinster forward went off his feet in a ruck and Clegg restored Glasgow’s lead with a penalty from just outside the 22.
After so many injury enforced changes, Glasgow had the luxury of a tactical one, on 57 minutes, Scotland Under-20 caps Zander Fagerson and Scott Cummings replacing Sila Puafisi and Greg Peterson. Fagerson immediately made his presence felt, helping Glasgow win a penalty at his first scrum, with Clegg extending his side’s lead with the kick.
Glasgow were now on top, and beginning to put together some good handling moves as the game entered its final quarter.
The visitors did mount something of a comeback going into the final ten minutes, but, the home defence stood firm and repelled the storm. As ever, referee George Clancy managed to upset the 6,800 fans at a full-house Scotstoun with some pro-Leinster decisions, but a penalty against the Irish side, for holding on at the breakdown, allowed Glasgow to clear their lines and play out time for a hard-fought victory.