Lyon roar back to end Glasgow’s Euro dream
GLASGOW WARRIORS blew a great chance to reach their firstever European semi-final as they slumped to defeat against Lyon in the Challenge Cup.
Leading 27-13 early in the second half, the Warriors looked to have this quarter-final tie in the palm of their hands at the Matmut Stade de Gerland. They were masters of their own destiny.
Yet, not for the first time this season, they imploded over the final half hour. Danny Wilson’s side shipped 22 points without reply in an astonishing act of self-destruction.
It was similar to what happened against Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup back in January. Second-half capitulations have also blighted their efforts in the United Rugby Championship far too often.
Despite the fact they were missing some key players due to injury, there was no excuse for the way the Warriors just wilted over the closing stages.
It has happened far too often this season and questions will now be asked of Wilson and whether these players are suffering from some sort of mental block.
To be in a position of such command and then throw it away is simply unacceptable. Despite being nowhere near their best, it is Lyon who will now advance to play Wasps in the semi-finals.
Glasgow made a nervy start, typified by full-back Ollie Smith. He made a couple of basic handling errors and knocked on twice inside the opening three minutes.
Lyon fly-half Leo Berdeu slotted a penalty to put his side 3-0 up — before Glasgow came roaring back to score the opening try in the sixth minute.
It all started from a counter-attack launched from deep inside their own half, with the ball being worked out wide to winger Josh McKay.
He kicked in behind the Lyon defence and after their full-back Toby Arnold had failed to gather the ball, McKay collected his own kick to race in and score.
It was totally against the run of play. Not that Glasgow cared much for that, with Ross Thompson’s conversion putting them 7-3 ahead.
Another penalty from Berdeu brought Lyon to within a point at 7-6 on 12 minutes. The French side were putting Glasgow under huge pressure but kept on coughing up possession very cheaply.
Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price thought he had scored a second try for the visitors just before the 20-minute mark.
But, in a foot race against his opposite number Baptise Couilloud, it was the Frenchman who was adjudged by the TMO to have touched the ball first as both players sought to apply downward pressure.
It was an extremely tight call, but another brace of penalties from Thompson stretched Glasgow’s lead to 13-6 just before the halfhour mark.
Lyon looked like they had responded immediately when flanker Beka Saghinadze charged over to score, but it was ruled out by the TMO for foul play in the build-up.
But they eventually got their first try of the night when some quick thinking from scrum-half Couilloud saw him take a quick tap penalty and dart through a gap to score.
The conversion from Berdeu was good and it tied the scorelines at 13-13 — but Glasgow stormed back immediately to take the lead at half-time.
It was a peach of a try which saw the wingers combine to devastating effect; McKay spreading the ball out wide for Cole Forbes to race in and score in the corner.
Thompson nailed the conversion from out on the touchline to give his team a 20-13 lead at the break.
After a nervy start, Glasgow’s response had been excellent. Lyon had been their own worst enemy at times and were making far too many handling errors.
The challenge now was to stay strong and avoid the kind of secondhalf meltdown which has so often blighted their efforts this season. Ultimately, they failed to do so.
The Warriors kept their foot on the gas and an absolutely monstrous scrum set the tone shortly after half-time.
It set the platform for an attacking line-out deep inside the Lyon 22, with the maul then rumbling towards the try line.
It was brought down illegally in the opinion of referee Matt Carley and he awarded the Warriors a penalty try which put them 27-13 ahead.
Berdeu was sent to the sin bin, but Glasgow were also reduced to 14 men shortly after when prop Jamie Bhatti was yellow-carded.
Lyon pressure was beginning to build and lock Romain Taofifenua powered over to score on 55 minutes, with Jean-Marc Doussain adding the extras.
Lyon then scored again just after the hour mark when winger Davit Niniashvili finished off a lethal counter-attack. Now back on the pitch after his yellow card, Berdeu missed the conversion.
With Glasgow still leading 27-25, the game was now on a knife-edge heading into the final 15 minutes.
Glasgow were then penalised for not rolling away to gift Lyon another penalty. Berdeu drilled it between the posts as the French side snuck into the lead at 28-27.
Niniashvili then scored his second try of the night to clinch the victory for the hosts on 77 minutes. Berdeu slotted the conversion to put Lyon out of sight at 35-27.
SCORERS; LYON — Tries: Couilloud, Taofifenua, Niniashvili (2). Cons: Berdeu (2), Doussain. Pens: Berdeu (3).
GLASGOW — Tries: McKay, Forbes, penalty. Cons: Thompson (2). Pens: Thompson (2).