Pro12: Glasgow Warriors 35-24 Connacht

Scrum-half Ali Price had an influential role in Glasgow's win, and scored their third try

Glasgow preserved their slim hopes of reaching the Pro12 play-offs for a sixth straight year with an enthralling bonus-point victory over Connacht.

The visitors enjoyed 83% first-half possession but only led 15-13 despite Niyi Adeolokun and John Muldoon tries.

Corey Flynn's score and Finn Russell's boot kept Glasgow in touch, and they surged ahead in the third quarter with tries from Russell and Ali Price.

Tim Swinson was sent off for a swinging arm but Sean Lamont's try sealed it.

It was a great moment for the 36-year-old Scotland wing in the week he confirmed this will be his final season before retiring.

Victory moved the Warriors to within 10 points of fourth-placed Ulster, with only four league games left.

But their focus will now switch to their first ever European Champions Cup quarter-final next Sunday, away at defending champions Saracens.

Connacht started superbly, switching play left and right before Bundee Aki and Tiernan O'Halloran combined to send wing Adeolokun over in the right corner inside the opening five minutes.

Glasgow spent much of the first half living off scraps, but their response to falling behind was impressive. Russell knocked over a penalty before Stuart Hogg's alertness paved the way for their opening try.

The Scotland full-back, voted Six Nations player of the tournament for the second successive year this week, picked up a loose ball on the left touchline and won the chase to his own kick ahead.

Several phases later, veteran hooker Flynn took Russell's pass to carry three Connacht defenders over the line with him, Russell converting for a 10-5 lead.

Finn Russell forced his way over for a second-half try and kicked five from five attempts at goal

But the visitors continued to dominate possession, their big ball-carriers making hay and offloading with abandon.

Ronaldson make it 10-8 with a penalty after Glasgow's scrambling defence strayed offside. But they couldn't stop the next onslaught as Connacht worked captain Muldoon over in the left corner after a sweet offload from Jake Heenan and a buccaneering charge from lock Andrew Browne.

Ronaldson's conversion put Connacht 15-10 up, but Russell's second penalty ensured Glasgow's half-time deficit was only two points.

Their attack was not at its fluent best, poor passes from Peter Horne - to Hogg - and Nick Grigg - to Rory Hughes - spoiling two clean breaks.

But after Ronaldson had kicked Connacht 18-13 ahead with his second penalty, Russell jinked his way over after a snipe from Price.

Connacht's Bundee Aki and Glasgow's Sean Lamont were involved in a fracas after a high tackle on Ali Price

A high tackle from Connacht's Jack Carty on Price sparked an 'all-in' melee, referee Ian Davies eventually deciding a yellow card for the fly-half was the only punishment required.

Glasgow immediately took advantage, Price stepping his way over for their third try. Russell landed the conversion before making way for Alex Dunbar, with Horne moving to 10.

But Swinson's senseless swinging arm on replacement Connacht hooker Dave Heffernan reduced the hosts to 14 men for the final 14 minutes.

Price's brilliant last-ditch tackle denied Adeolokun a second try and Fraser Brown won a relieving penalty before Lamont steamed onto Peter Horne's pass to score in the left corner.

Post-match reaction:

Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price: "At half-time we came into the changing room and were told we only had 20% possession. We felt we defended the whole first half, but when we got the ball we caused their defence trouble.

"In the second half we wanted to hold onto the ball and with the speed of our play, we managed to cause them more trouble, so it was great to come away with a bonus-point win.

"Everyone was excited to get back playing club rugby - we have got so much to play for in the next four or five games. We want to be competing in the league and in Europe, so it is an exciting challenge."

Glasgow Warriors: S Hogg, S Lamont, N Grigg, P Horne (captain), R Hughes, F Russell, A Price; A Allan; C Flynn, S Puafisi, T Swinson, B Alainu'uese, R Harley, M Smith, A Ashe.

Replacements: F Brown (for Flynn, 48), G Reid (for Allan, 53, Allan for Reid, 67), D Rae (for Puafisi, 53), S Cummings (for Ashe, 67), L Wynne (for Smith, 53), G Horne (for Price, 67), A Dunbar (for Russell, 56), P Murchie (for Hogg, 67).

Red card: Swinson, 66

Connacht: T O'Halloran, N Adeolokun, B Aki, C Ronaldson, S Ili, J Carty, K Marmion; D Buckley, T McCartney, F Bealham, Q Roux, A Browne, S O'Brien, J Heenan, J Muldoon (captain).

Replacements: D Heffernan (for McCartney), R Loughney (for Buckley, 67), D Robertson-McCoy (for Bealham, 53), J Cannon (for Browne, 67), N Dawai (for O'Brien, 61), J Cooney (for Marmion, 26-31, 55), T Farrell (for Ronaldson, 67), J Rowland (for Adeolokun, 79).

Yellow card: Carty, 54

Referee: Ian Davies.