First half blitz sets Warriors on way to semi-final

GLASGOW sealed a home semi-final after this comprehensive triumph over Connacht.

Tries from Stuart Hogg, Alex Dunbar, and Fraser Brown had the win wrapped up by half-time, before Henry Pyrgos sealed the bonus point shortly after the restart.

“We did enough to get the job done and that was key,” said head coach Dave Rennie. “That’s why we kicked a lot of penalties in the first half because it was all about getting a win.

“It’s nice that we know we’re going to be at home in a few weeks’ time.”

Slow starts have plagued Connacht this season but after a minute they took the lead when Finlay Bealham scored off the back of a rolling maul.

But Glasgow hit back when Hogg scored in the corner, while Peter Horne converted and then kicked three penalties. Dunbar danced through a big hole in the line, while Fraser Brown burrowed over in the final minutes of the half for a 30-8 lead.

After Pyrgos’s fourth try, Alex Allan was sin-binned from a scrum infringement and Caolin Blade scored for Connacht. Rob Harley was latyer sin binned for killing the ball and the Connacht scrum won a penalty try, but they were second best.

“The pace of the game beat us big time that first half,” said coach Kieran Keane. “We were passive in our defence and leaking tries. We had to regroup at half time and that saved us from embarrassment.”