Connacht 15 Glasgow 8:CONNACHT may have lived on the edge throughout, but they survived to post their first win of this season's Magners League against visitors Glasgow Warriors.
Glasgow ruled 70 per cent of possession and territory, and squandered numerous chances, but Connacht, with a little luck on their side and a lot of character in defence, made their slim pickings count to take the spoils in this hard-fought encounter.
If the opening try from Fionn Carr proved pivotal, then the second, scored by Brett Wilkinson, was the most creative on the night. That, combined with a huge defensive effort ensured Connacht reaped the reward.
Glasgow dominated the opening 30 minutes and outhalf Dan Parks kicked his side into the lead on two minutes.
Connacht were under pressure in the scrums and in the lineouts, with lock Opeta Paletoi and number eight Kelly Brown doing damage in the tight, while fullback Stortoni and wingers Hefin O'Hare and Thom Evans were carving space through the middle.
Parks missed an 11th-minute penalty from the 22 on the left wing, and Liam Bibo and Carr stopped Evans shy of the line, but the left winger took advantage minutes later when Duffy failed to deal with a high ball. It gave him the space to race through from 40 metres out for an 8-0 led on 22 minutes.
Connacht were let off the hook when Parks's conversion hit the upright, and the outhalf, who was replaced in the second half, missed another two kickable penalties.
However, the game turned in a moment of magic from Carr. Glasgow were once again on the attack, but Graeme Morrison misfired his pass out wide, and Carr scooped up the ball and ran 70 metres to touch down, with Ian Keatley adding the conversion.
That score certainly provided Connacht with impetus, and on only their second incursion into the Warriors' 22, they capitalised on a penalty to touch, and in a move rehearsed on the training pitch, crossed for a second try.
Scrumhalf Frank Murphy set up the try, taking Andrew Farley's tap and rocketing through the backrow before Brett Wilkinson burst through from the ensuing ruck to touch down. Keatley's conversion hit off the post to give Connacht a 12-8 half-time lead.
Replacement outhalf Andy Dunne added a 86th-minute penalty to stretch Connacht's lead to 15-8 and ensure their defensive efforts were rewarded.
CONNACHT:F Carr, L Bibo, G Duffy, K Matthews, J Hearty, I Keatley, F Murphy, B Wilkinson, S Cronin, R Morris, M McCarthy, A Farley, J Muldoon (capt), R Ofisa, C Rigney. Replacements: A Dunne for Keatley, R Loughney for Morris (both 55 mins), J O'Connor for Ofisa (60 mins), A Flavin for Cronin (70 mins), A Browne for McCarthy (76 mins), M Deane for Duffy (80 mins).
GLASGOW WARRIORS:B Stortoni, H O'Hare, M Evans, G Morrison, T Evans, D Parks, M McMillan, J Va'a, D Hall, M Low, O Palepoi, A Kellock (capt), S Swindall, J Barclay, K Brown. Replacements: C Gregor for 10 (h-t), J Beattie for Swindall (55 mins), E Milligan for Hall (60 mins), K Tkachuk for Va'a, D Turner for Palepoi (both 60 mins), A Henderson for M Evans, R Jackson for McMillan (both 66 mins).
Referee:D Bodilly (Wales).
