WARRIOR SPIRIT
Glasgow on track for home semi after five-star show
Glasgow go top with gutsy win at Leinster
GEORGE HORNE added a fifth try at the death to cap a wonderful afternoon for Glasgow as Dave Rennie’s side continued their push for a home semi-final in the Guinness Pro14 with an elusive win at the RDS Arena.
The 2015 winners side hadn’t won a game away to Leinster since September 2011 but they returned to the top of Conference A with a five-try victory.
After they were dumped out of Europe by Saracens, Glasgow turned their attentions to the league and they’ve now picked up 34 points from a possible 35 in their last seven Pro14 games.
Head coach Rennie was pleased with the defence of his Warriors.
‘You know when you play Leinster that you are going to have to defend a lot,’ he explained. ‘Their ability to hang on to the ball and get multi-phase is incredible.
‘But we defended well through a big chunk of the game and we were pretty clinical when we got our opportunities.’
Two brothers scored for both sides, with Dave and Rob Kearney each touching down for the hosts in the first half.
But Matt and Zander Fagerson’s scores turned the game in Glasgow’s favour after the second half.
A couple of big carries from the returning Devin Toner and Robbie Henshaw put Glasgow on the back foot early on, and then Jamison Gibson-Park looped a long pass to Dave Kearney, who side-stepped Stuart Hogg and scored.
Leinster centre Joe Tomane took over the kicking duties and his conversion went wide, but Leinster were 5-3 up after 10 minutes following Adam Hastings’ earlier penalty for Warriors.
Hastings put them back in front with another penalty before Sam Johnson scored their first try. It was a magnificent effort, created by the brilliance of Ali Price. Hastings converted and Glasgow held a 13-5 lead with 16 minutes played.
Leinster came with a relentless wave of attacks looking for their second try.
Gibson-Park delivered a pass to Henshaw, who failed to break through but after Ross Byrne’s pass to Rob Kearney, the ball was fumbled over Niko Matawalu’s head before Kearney took control and touched down. Byrne reduced the arrears to 13-12 in the 36th minute.
But it was all too easy for Glasgow as they came again and scored another try with their next foray into the Leinster 22.
Hastings was a menace as he attacked the line with the ball in both hands, he spotted Tommy Seymour’s wonderful run behind Dave Kearney, and his pinpoint pass ensured Glasgow scored just before half-time, though Hastings missed his conversion attempt.
Leinster changed their entire front row at the break but even with Ireland internationals Cian Healy, Sean Cronin and Tadhg Furlong on the field, they couldn’t avoid a scrum penalty shortly after the resumption.
But the hosts turned over the resultant Glasgow line-out and Tomane won a vital penalty in the Warriors’ half.
Sean O’Brien was immense as he carried hard in the build-up to Leinster’s third try. Byrne’s short pass sent Rob Kearney over from close range again.
Crucially, Byrne added the touchline conversion to push Leinster back in front 19-18 after 53 minutes.
Leinster scored again, this time their bonus-point try, through Dave Kearney. Jordan Larmour’s dancing feet creating the opening in the right corner and Kearney finished well.
Byrne missed the conversion but Leinster were 24-18 ahead, before they were shocked by a third Glasgow try. Hogg kicked a penalty into the corner and the pack rumbled their way forward before Matt Fagerson powered over.
Hastings’ conversion put Glasgow back in front again and the game was evenly poised with just over 10 minutes left.
Zander Fagerson gave Glasgow the bonus point before George Horne scored under the posts to round off a quality win.