Glasgow grind out narrow URC win over Scarlets

United Rugby Championship

Glasgow Warriors: (7) 17

Tries: Matthews, Venter Cons: Weir 2 Pens: Weir

Scarlets: (8) 15

Tries: Macleod, Nicholas Cons: Lloyd Pens: Lloyd

Glasgow Warriors survived a scare to grind out a victory over Scarlets and move within two points of leaders Leinster at the top of the United Rugby Championship.

Josh Macleod crossed to give the Welsh side an early lead before Johnny Matthews’ score ensured the home side went in at the break trailing 8-7.

Ioan Nicholas and Henco Venter exchanged tries as the second-half momentum swung back and forth.

Duncan Weir nudged Glasgow in front for the first time and Ioan Lloyd missed a late penalty and drop-goal attempt that would have won it for Scarlets.

Warriors remain second in the URC table, with Scarlets in sixth.

Glasgow rested several of their Scotland stars after the Autumn Nations Series, including the likes of Sione Tuipulotu, Rory Darge and the Fagerson brothers, and it was the visitors who quickly claimed the initiative.

A Lloyd penalty was quickly followed by a rolling lineout maul that finished with captain MacLeod dotting down as the Scarlets surged into an 8-0 lead.

Warriors upped the tempo and although they butchered numerous lineouts close to the Scarlets line, they eventually burst the dam after a passage of extraordinary Welsh defence, Matthews going over to make it a one-point game at the break.

Scarlets started the second half as they had the first, on the front foot, and some patient phase play created an opening for full-back Nicholas to glide over for the Welsh side's second try of the evening, re-establishing an eight-point lead.

Warriors' response was immediate. From a lineout maul Matthews peeled off and carried Glasgow to within a few yards and a few phases later Venter powered over. Weir added the extras and brought his side back within one.

The fly-half - who had replaced Adam Hastings in the first half after the Scotland international was forced off following a nasty collision with Vaea Fafita - knocked over a penalty to put Glasgow in front for the first time at 17-15.

Lloyd had a chance to put Scarlets back in front, but his penalty from 40 metres drifted wide. He had one more shot at glory, a drop-goal with the clock in the red, but Tom Jordan charged down and Glasgow got the ball off the field to secure a hard-earned victory.

Johnny Matthews scored Glasgow's first try of the game

Line-ups

Glasgow: Josh McKay; Sebastian Cancelliere, Stafford McDowall, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe; Adam Hastings, George Horne; Patrick Schickerling, Johnny Matthews, Fin Richardson, Jare Oguntibeju, Alex Samuel, Ally Miller, Henco Venter, Jack Mann.

Replacements: Grant Stewart, Allan Dell, Sam Talakai, Macenzzie Duncan, Gregor Hiddleston, Angus Fraser, Ben Afshar, Duncan Weir.

Scarlets: Ioan Nicholas; Ellis Mee, Macs Page, Johnny Williams, Blair Murray; Ioan Lloyd, Gareth Davies; Alec Hepburn, Marnus van der Merwe, Henry Thomas, Max Douglas, Sam Lousi, Josh Macleod (capt), Dan Davis, Vaea Fifita.

Replacements: Ryan Elias. Kemsley Mathias, Sam Wainwright, Alex Craig, Taine Plumtree, Efan Jones, Charlie Titcombe, Eddie James.

Referee: Fillipo Russo (FIR)