Connacht fall just short of famous comeback as Glasgow hold on

Glasgow Warriors 33 Connacht 32

Connacht’s hopes of two successive wins in the Guinness Pro12 were shattered at Scotstoun last night as Glasgow held on under intense pressure to take victory by the smallest of margins in a match that the visitors should have and could have won, the only consolation for Connacht being their two bonus points.

Early mistakes by Connacht cost the visitors dearly as Glasgow built up a 9-3 lead through three penalty goals by Rory Clegg to one by Jack Carty before the inexperienced Warriors side showed the form that won them the Guinness Pro12 last season, with a try by fullback Glenn Bryce converted by Clegg.

A second try by second row Scott Cummings, a member of Scotland’s under-20 side last season, and Clegg’s conversion was answered by a second Carty penalty leaving Connacht trailing 23-6 at the break.

It all looked a hopeless cause for Connacht as the visitors conceded a try to Glasgow’s Rob Harley after scrumhalf John Cooney had lost his footing clearing the ball from a line-out.

Minutes later Cooney atoned in a big way, the scrum half taking a pass from number eight, Eoghan Masterton to romp over for a try converted into the wind by Carty. Clegg converted to bring the scores to 30-6.

But then the game changed dramatically as Connacht won a penalty try converted by Carty and then engineered a further try for Fionn Carr latching on to a grubber kick by Rory Parata .

A Clegg penalty gave some relief to Glasgow but Connacht quickly reasserted themselves and from a rolling maul flanker Sepia Fox-Matamua scrambled over for a try, Carty's conversion from wide out bringing Connacht to within a point of Glasgow. But in a frantic ending to the game Glasgow help out to deny the visitors. Glasgow Warriors: G Bryce; J Bulumakau, P Murchie, F Lyle, L Jones; R Clegg, M Blair; A Allan, P MacArthur, M Cusack, S Cummings, K Low, R Harley, C Fusaro, A Ashe. Replacements: S Wight for Bulumakau (40 mins), H Blake for Murchie (15 mins), Z Fagerson for Cusack, P MacArthur for Bryce, J Yanuyanutawa for Allan (all 48 mins), T Holmes for Fusaro (52 mins), G Hart for Blair (67 mins).

Connacht: T O'Halloran (C Ronaldson 78); D Poolman, R Parata, B Aki, M Healy; J Carty, J Cooney; D Buckley, T McCartney, R Ah You, Q Roux, A Browne, J Muldoon, N Fox-Matamua, E Masterton. Replacements: K Marmion for Cooney (48 mins), B Marshall for Roux (50 mins), F Bealham for Ah You (64 mins), S O'Leary for Parata (72 mins), C Ronaldson for O'Halloran (78 mins).

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU)