Glasgow Warriors 20-9 Stormers: First-half burst gives hosts URC win
- Published
Johnny Matthews (right) ran in Glasgow's second and third tries at Scotstoun
URC: Glasgow Warriors v Stormers |
|---|
Glasgow Warriors (20) 20 |
Tries: Tuipulotu, Matthews 2 Con: Horne Pen: Horne |
Stormers (9) 9 |
Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 3 |
Two tries from the prolific Johnny Matthews helped Glasgow Warriors to victory over United Rugby Championship leaders Stormers at Scotstoun.
Sione Tuipulotu opened the scoring for Warriors before Matthews' double gave the home side a 20-9 lead at the break.
Glasgow had to withstand long spells of pressure in a second half that ultimately ended pointless.
The win moves Glasgow up to second in the table, behind the Stormers.
The last meeting between these sides, back in January, was one of the most enthralling encounters of the season, with Glasgow snatching a dramatic 24-17 victory in the final play. This match never quite burst into life in the same manner.
The home side, looking to bounce back after last weekend's defeat by Connacht in Galway, made promising early breaks through Matthews and Sebastian Cancelliere, but the only points of the opening quarter came courtesy of a penalty from Stormers centre Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
The game was meandering along until Tuipulotu ghosted through a midfield move to cruise in untouched and dot down under the posts.
It was not long until Glasgow were over again, Matthews doing what he does best by finishing off a powerful rolling lineout maul.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu's boot was keeping Stormers within touching distance. That was until Matthews powered over again in the last play of the half to open up an 11-point advantage.
The Stormers came out with renewed vigour after the break and battered away at the Glasgow line, but some superb Warriors defence kept the South Africans out.
The game had descended into a scrap with dropped balls all over the place and while the Stormers looked to be running out of ideas, Glasgow were also unable to string together any meaningful attacks.
Warriors finally found some field position from which to apply pressure late in the game but could not fashion an opening that would have brought their fourth try and a bonus point.
That may well be a source of frustration for head coach Franco Smith, but his side are back to winning ways and next up is a trip to Wales to take on Ospreys next Saturday.
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith: "From a coaching perspective you always want a little bit more. I think we were good enough and created enough opportunities so that is a regret, but it is something that will motivate us going into this week."
Glasgow centre Sione Tuipulotu: "We didn't have to do too much defending tonight against their talented backs tonight because the forward pack really stood up. Guys like Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge stood up, handled the set piece, bossed the breakdown and kind of took over the game for us."
Glasgow: Smith, Cancelliere, Tuipulotu, McDowall, Rowe, Jordan, Horne, Kebble, Matthews, Z Fagerson, Peterson, Gray, M Fagerson, Darge, Vailanu.
Replacements: Weir for Jordan (62), Bhatti for Kebble (50), Fraser for Matthews (77), Sordoni for Z. Fagerson (62), Samuel for Peterson (77), Cummings for Gray (50), Venter for Vailanu (72). Not Used: Dobie.
Stormers: Gelant, Davids, Loader, Mngomezulu, Zas, D du Plessis, Jantjies, Vermaak, Dweba, Fouche, Dixon, Van Heerden, Engelbrecht, Roos, Morabe.
Replacements: Blommetjies for D du Plessis (65), Ungerer for Jantjies (65), Gqoboka for Vermaak (49), Venter for Dweba (60), Harris for Fouche (67), Porter for Van Heerden (49), Theunissen for Engelbrecht (49), Smith for Morabe (49). Sin Bin: Roos (39), Dweba (40).