Bayonne 11-12 Glasgow Warriors - Investec Champions Cup: Visitors claim first win in competition
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Number eight Ally Miller (left) scored his first ever Glasgow Warriors try
European Champions Cup, Pool C: Bayonne v Glasgow Warriors |
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Bayonne: (8) 11 |
Tries: Bosch Pens: Lopez 2 |
Glasgow Warriors: (7) 12 |
Tries: Miller, McKay Cons: Thompson |
Glasgow Warriors opened their Champions Cup account as they held on for a thrilling win away to Bayonne.
A Camille Lopez penalty and Facundo Bosch try had the hosts ahead early on.
Ally Miller touched down as Glasgow hit back despite having Zander Fagerson in the sin-bin.
Lopez's boot gave Bayonne a four-point lead after the break, but Josh McKay went flying into the corner as Warriors led for the first time before withstanding intense late pressure.
Reece Hodge missed two long kicks in the closing minutes as the side sitting 11th in the French Top 14 came mighty close to sending the team lying second in the United Rugby Championship to a second straight Pool 3 defeat.
Both head coaches had made 10 changes from the sides that played in the opening games - Bayonne having snatched a draw with Munster and Glasgow losing heavily at home to Northampton Saints.
The visitors looked determined to make amends from the kick-off and, when a clever Ross Thompson kick found Ollie Smith, the wing touched down in the corner only for the try to be ruled out by a stud into touch.
It was all Glasgow in the first seven minutes, but they were unable to score and the tables were turned for the next seven.
After a series of penalties on Glasgow's five-metre line, Rodrigo Bruni burrowed over only to be penalised for a double movement.
It was now end-to-end stuff and, after an amazing 27th-minute run from deep inside his own half to the opposition 22 by Nadir Megdoud, Fagerson was shown a yellow card.
Having already been thwarted several times after playing for touch instead of kicking to the posts, Bayonne decided enough was enough and Lopez accepted the penalty gift.
The hosts took further advantage of their extra man as Bosch touched down behind a rolling maul.
However, moments later, Miller showed amazing pace for a number eight as he legged it past Megdoud out wide to race over for Glasgow's first points - and his first Warriors try - with fly-half Thompson adding the conversion on his first start of the season.
George Horne then slipped at the crucial moment as Glasgow's scrum-half broke for the line after the break and Lopez stretched the lead with a monster penalty from almost halfway.
Hooker Angus Fraser was having a frustrating night with line-out ball, but Warriors overcame their set-piece problems as McKay touched down with a giant leap into the corner as Hodge tackled him in mid-air.
New signing Hodge also had the chance to extend the lead, but two long-range penalties slipped agonisingly wide before Bayonne's series of attacks finally fizzled out in added time.
Glasgow Warriors head coach Franco Smith: "I was not concerned [the line-out] didn't function. I think we had more than enough opportunity, but it's uncommon [for us].
"For the whole 18 months, we've been really good at it. This is what we'll take from it tonight - how to adapt, what is the next plan, and to stay in the fight."
Line-ups
Bayonne: Spring, Callandret, Tiberghien, Martocq, Megdoud, Lopez, Aprasidze, Cormenier, Bosh, Tagi, Marchois, Leindekar Virginio, Bourdeau, Heguy, Bruni.
Replacements: Hodge for Tiberghien (49), Dolhagaray for Lopez (57), Perchaud for Cormenier (57), Giudicelli for Bosh (47), Tatafu for Tagi (57), Ceyte for Marchois (66), Iturria for Heguy (47). Not Used: Machenaud.
Glasgow Warriors: McKay, Rowe, Jones, Tuipulotu, Smith, Thompson, G Horne, Bhatti, Turner, Z. Fagerson, Peterson, Samuel, G Brown, Gordon, Miller.
Replacements: Jordan for Smith (39), McBeth for Bhatti (57), Fraser for Turner (57), Kebble for Z. Fagerson (57), Gray for Peterson (66). Not Used: Williamson, Venter, Afshar.
Sin Bin: Z Fagerson (27).
Referee: Adam Leal (RFU).