Leinster's high hopes left stuck in the mud

Not quite calamitous - it appeared to be heading that way at one stage - but certainly another crushing disappointment for Leinster rugby. The momentum achieved through a superb victory on the opening weekend of the European Cup dissipated in the rain and mud of Glasgow.

Leinster were left to rue an insipid start, when they were brittle in the tackle and over elaborate in possession. Caledonians, however, produced some marvellous flowing rugby and a typical, technically-sound display up front.

They were appreciably better in possession and offered Leinster nothing but an uncompromising wall in defence. Glasgow scored four tries to Leinster's two (one a penalty try) but Leinster's brace came when their opponents led 29-3.

Leinster can take some consolation from the fact that Brian O'Driscoll was outstanding in the centre and others who impressed were Gary Halpin, the excellent Robert Casey and Declan O'Brien, who produced another huge display. Indeed, apart from the opening 20 minutes the visiting pack acquitted themselves well.

The strong wind, exacerbated by misting rain on a gluepot surface, militated against assured handling. Leinster's unease was manifest in the number of unforced errors in the opening 40 minutes, 14, and the number of turnovers, five, two of which led to tries.

Despite the conditions, Leinster chose to put the ball through the hands in the three-quarter line, invariably from static ball. This allowed the marauding Glasgow defenders to make their tackles on the front foot, force an error or ensure that the Leinster pack had to turn to try and win back possession.

Glasgow also committed far fewer players to rucks and cluttered the channels for the Leinster midfield backs. The home side were also infinitely more assertive in the loose, the back row trio of captain Gordon Simpson, South African Roland Reid and Jon Petrie choosing good angles in supporting the ball carrier. Hooker Gordon Bulloch was another to thrive in broken play.

Glasgow's rucking was far superior, as was their ability to take the tackle and continue the momentum, and in this they were facilitated by some brittle Leinster tackling.

Glasgow grabbed two first-half tries, through New Zealand-born left wing Shaun Longstaff and Reid. Out-half Tommy Hayes kicked two conversions and a penalty. Leinster's only reply was a penalty from out-half Mark McHugh.

The visitors began the second half with a greater purpose, taking the game to their opponents through the pack. Casey, Victor Costello and O'Brien make the hard yards, and the rest of the pack worked tirelessly: but time and again an error would undo 30 or 40 metres of hard graft.

Glasgow were superb on the counter-attack, defying the conditions and producing one sensational try, their fourth. O'Brien lost possession in the Glasgow 22 and the home side swept the length of the pitch, first one side and then the other, culminating in Hayes touching down in the right corner. Nine players had contributed to the score.

The out-half missed the conversion, his first failed effort of the evening, having converted Longstaff's second try earlier in the half. Trailing 29-3 Leinster produced another series of forward drives and from a ruck six metres out hooker Shane Byrne showed a neat side step to cross under the posts. McHugh converted.

Leinster showed great character in the closing stages, the forwards pinning Glasgow in their own 22. They gained points in injury time when replacement hooker Peter Smyth blocked down scrum-half Andy Nicol's clearance and referee Joel Dume awarded a penalty try when Hegarty was prevented from grounding the ball over the line.

McHugh posted the conversion, but but unfortunately the horse was three field fields away.