Pro14: Scarlets 26-8 Glasgow Warriors
- Published
Pro14: Scarlets v Glasgow Warriors |
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Scarlets (8) 26 |
Tries: Patchell 2, G Davies Con: Halfpenny Pens: Halfpenny 3 |
Glasgow Warriors (0) 8 |
Try: Pyrgos Pen: Horne |
Scarlets kept the pressure on Conference B table-toppers Leinster with an impressive win over Glasgow.
Finn Russell and Leigh Halfpenny missed two kicks apiece in the first half before Rhys Patchell shrugged off some weak tackling to open the scoring.
Halfpenny was back on target in the second half, with Gareth Davies' interception try stretching the lead.
Glasgow pulled one back through Henry Pyrgos, before Patchell added his second of the afternoon.
Despite the defeat Glasgow remain top of Conference A with a 12-point advantage over second-placed Munster and look set to secure a home play-off.
Scarlets are four points adrift of Leinster, who they are due to meet in the semi-final of the Champions Cup on 21 April.
They will secure a home play-off if they beat third-place Edinburgh next Saturday.
Missed opportunities
Russell had the chance to put the visitors 6-0 ahead in the first 20 minutes, but was uncharacteristically off target, as was Halfpenny, who kicked seven from eight against La Rochelle last week.
Patchell burst through the Glasgow defence to open the scoring just before the half hour mark. Halfpenny missed the conversion, but normal service was resumed with a penalty soon after.
Russell turned down two penalties, including one under the posts, in the final stages of the first half, but Scarlets' defensive scrum held strong.
Russell, who will join French side Racing 92 next season, was substituted for Peter Horne at the break after a first half he will want to forget.
Horne made no mistake with his first penalty attempt, but succumbed to the kicker's curse with two wayward kicks soon after.
Scarlets' more experienced front row continued to dominate in the second half, earning a penalty which Halfpenny kicked to extend their lead.
Davies recreated his Six Nations try against Scotland when he latched onto a loose pass to run the length of the field and beat covering defender DTH van der Merwe in the corner.
Glasgow got themselves back in the game on the hour when Horne picked up quickly and offloaded to fellow replacement Pyrgos to cross over.
Patchell bagged his second in the final minutes after some good handling by James Davies.
After the final whistle Parc y Scarlets bid farewell to the likes of Scott Williams, Tadhg Beirne, John Barclay and Aled Davies who potentially played their last home game.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Patchell said: "The boys went really well.
"It was very difficult to replicate the highs of last week, but we refocused pretty quickly on what was a big week for the boys that are leaving us.
"It might not be their final memory at Parc y Scarlets - we hope it isn't - but if it was their last home game of the season then we sent them on their way with a big smile."
He added: "We're aware if we pick up a win next week we pretty much seal second spot and that will be good enough to get a home semi-final.
"But there are a lot of sore bodies at the tail end of the season".
Scarlets: Halfpenny; S Evans, S Williams, Parkes, Nicholas; Patchell, G Davies; R Evans, Owens (capt), Lee, Beirne, Cummins, Shingler, Barclay, J Davies.
Replacements: Elias, D Evans, Kruger, Rawlins, Boyde, A Davies, D Jones, S Hughes.
Glasgow Warriors: Hogg; Seymour, Grigg, Johnson, van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Bhatti, Turner, Z Fagerson, Swinson, Gray, Harley, Gibbins, Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Stewart, Kebble, Halanukonuka, Cummings, Fusaro, Pyrgos, Horne, Masaga (6)
Referee: George Clancy (IRFU)
Assistant referees: David Wilkinson (IRFU), Gywn Morris (WRU)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (IRFU)
- Published3 April 2018
- Published30 March 2018