URC: Reaction as Glasgow rally to beat Cardiff 17-13

1. Visitors lead 13-0 at interval with two De Beer penalties & Thomas try
2. Glasgow hit back with Williamson & Sordoni tries & Weir penalty
3. Win moves Glasgow a point behind leaders Leinster, while Cardiff stay 12th

Good night!

A pretty brutal affair in the swirling wind and thunderous rain, but Glasgow came back from 13-0 down to win and shut out Cardiff in the second half.

It became a real lesson for the young Warriors on show - Alex Samuel, Euan Ferrie, Jamie Dobie among them. The star of the night though was Max Williamson. His score got the ball rolling, and it was one to remember - running a brilliant line from the ruck and dancing past a tackle to arrow his way to the line.

An important win, but the Warriors remain second on points difference.

And away...

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Max Williamson is congratulated by his Glasgow teammates

Cardiff 'physically dominated' Glasgow - Smith

Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith tells Viaplay: "Happy with the win, we would have loved to play the brand and style we wanted to but the weather didn't allow us to.

"Cardiff were excellent, the way they physically approached this game. They were very good in the breakdown, the set piece and they physically dominated us in most areas of the pitch. It was a good learning curve for the young boys out there.

"To come back from the 13-0 deficit was important for us, it shows a bit of character that the team is going to need going forward.

"We want this to be the toughest place to come in the URC and I'm glad the boys kept that up tonight.

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Half time 'rocket' was deserved - Matthews

Glasgow hooker Johnny Matthews tells BBC Scotland: "Conditions played a part, especially first half. Quite rightly we got a bit of a rocket from the coaches. It showed when we came out in the first couple of minutes.

"Great reaction, and 17 unanswered points in the second half shows the real character of the squad. Hopefully we can kick on now.

"You couldn't hear peoiple next to you, it was brutal conditions. But it's Glasgow, isn it? We're used to it.

"Maybe we wanted to execute a bit better but as a squad, to win the game from where we were is outstanding.

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John Barclay

Former Scotland captain on Viaplay

I'm still trying to figure out what Ellis Bevan was thinking!

It was a bit of a strange game, given the conditions, it struggled to come to life. We saw glimpses from both but ultimately it's another win for this Glasgow machine. They're in good shape at the moment.

Cardiff saw some of their players stand up. Rhys Carre, Ellis Jenkins, Mason Grady. But just glimpses.

'Cardiff can be proud'

Ryan Wilson

Former Glasgow Warriors player on Viaplay

For Cardiff... we spoke about Scotland being so close and not getting over the final hurdle.

But, with some of the trouble they've had with everything in Welsh rugby, they're staying in the fight, they're finding a way, and they can be proud of that.

They defended well tonight and they can be proud of that effort.

Steyn hints at Hastings arrival

Warrior' skipper Kyle Steyn tells Viaplay: "Credit to a great Cardiff side, they put us under a lot of pressure. We're saying all the right things, we knew what was coming but they still caught us off-guard.

"You can say all you want but you have to start doing it.

"We're buzzing for Duncy [Munn], even though he only got 40 seconds. He's a Warrior now and always will be. We have Max [Williamson], big Al [Samuel], Fez [Euan Ferrie] at six. It's a great test for the young boys, and it's a good sign for us as going forward.

Steyn was also asked about the alleged Adam Hastings signing... "We all love Hasto, he still has tons of mates here and he's placed this brand of rugby before. We're buzzing to have him home."

Well, that sounds promising.

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'We've always found a way' - Dempsey

Player of the match Jack Dempsey is asked by Viaplay if a 13-point deficit at half-time was worth it for the wind in the second-half: "Based on Franco's half time speech, it wasn't worth it. This is my third season at Glasgow and that first half was the hardest conditions I've played in. We stuck it out, we knew it would open up, but the first half wasn't good enough.

"We prepped for that all week, we knew they'd be hungry with the team they have and the identity they have - that's their tradition. We were ready and they still caught us off-guard. That's a lesson for our young boys.

"We've always found a way. The key for us moving forward, in Europe and the business end of the league is making sure we do it on the big stage and hopefully this game is a step in the right direction."

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Full-time Glasgow Warriors 17-13 Cardiff

Inexplicably, Ellis Bevan kicks it out as Cardiff attack with the clock in the red. That is a complete brain fade from the Cardiff scrum-half.

And it means Glasgow have the win. That wasn't what Franco Smith would have wanted at all, but the Warriors have their four points.

It's not enough to go top, but they've survived a real scare in absolutely brutal conditions.

Reaction to come.

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Duncan Munn comes on for Duncan Weir in the dying seconds. Making his pro debut, he has to defend against a desperate Cardiff.

The visitors have a scrum in their own half. It just takes one break...

Glasgow go to the corner. Can they score this time around?

Johnny Matthews finds a Warrior in the sky, but Seb Davies comes round to disrupt the maul and wins a penalty for Cardiff. Brilliant defence.

Meanwhile, Allan Dell, Gregor Hiddleston and Sintu Manjezi are on for Glasgow. Johnny Matthews suffers a try-less game. No score for Erling 'Maul'-land.

Glasgow knock on from a quick tap penalty - George Horne look away now.

But the Warriors wheel the scrum around and win the penalty! Jack Dempsey celebrates - he's been named player of the match.

Frank Murphy has given Oli Kebble and Rhys Carre a real talking to there. The referee is not happy at all with the state of the scrum.

It goes down again - but this time there's a problem on the far side.

The clock is ticking down. This'll probably suit Glasgow more, although a hush has descended over a nervous home crowd.

No try

Glasgow work it left through the hands and this time it works!

Or does it? Kyle Steyn strolled over but the final pass from Josh McKay looks miles forward.

And quickly, it's expunged from the records. That's no surprise.

Penalty

Cardiff are pinged at the breakdown and this time, Glasgow take no chances. The win is more important than the bonus point.

Duncan Weir sticks it between the uprights and gives the Warriors a slightly plumper cushion.

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Williamson's moment of wonder

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A moment Max Williamson will remember for the rest of his days - a first professional try

Glasgow get a throw down in the corner again. Copy and paste the above post.

The Warriors cannot continue to cough up set piece in dangerous areas. They need a bonus point win to go top - they need another two tries in the next 15 minutes if they are to do that.

Glasgow win an offside penalty in midfield and ping it down into the corner. The throw comes... and it's conceded. Cardiff scramble away.

It's still a one point ball game.

Nightmare for Lucio Sordoni. After scoring his first Warriors try, he's picked up an injury and has to be helped from the pitch. Oli Kebble replaces him.

Cardiff's maul is causing trouble, and they win a penalty about 40 metres out. Tinus de Beer is going for the posts. He's kicking into the wind, although it has died down a lot.

He lines it up... and smacks the post! Glasgow keep hold of the lead.

Warriors warm to the task

Andy Burke

BBC Scotland at Scotstoun

Glasgow look a different team in this second half. The wind and rain has eased up which has certainly helped, but there is a purpose and accuracy to Warriors' play that was absent in the first half.

Jack Dempsey has been central to the Glasgow revival. His dynamic carrying has helped get his team on the front foot.

Converted try GLASGOW WARRIORS 14-13 Cardiff

Glasgow go wide and Jamie Dobie is held up inches short. Advantage is coming and the hosts go through the phases, and they go over the line.

Frank Murphy gets down on his knees to have a look, and the arm goes up. Try given! Sordoni is the man adjudged to have crashed over.

If only every referee burrowed into the ruck to see if the ball had been touched down. Not that I'm bitter.

Duncan Weir slots the extras, and within 12 minutes of the second half, Glasgow lead.