Glasgow see off Cardiff in 13-try 'rollercoaster'

Man of the match Sione Tuipulotu's solo score sealed a bonus-point for Glasgow

United Rugby Championship: Cardiff v Glasgow Warriors

Cardiff (12) 36

Tries: D Thomas, Winnett, Byrne, Martin, Donnell Cons: B Thomas, De Beer 3 Pen: De Beer

Glasgow (33) 52

Tries: Dobbie, Rowe 2, Jordan 2, Tuipulotu, Jones, Fagerson Cons: Jordan 5, Weir

Glasgow Warriors ended Cardiff's perfect start to the season in a remarkable 13-try thriller at the Arms Park.

The defending champions stunned the Arms Park as Jamie Dobie, Kyle Rowe, Tom Jordan, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones crossed in the first half.

Against all odds, Ed Byrne, Mackenzie Martin and Ben Donnell twice hauled the hosts back into contention after the break - even when down to 14 men - following Dan Thomas and Cam Winnett's earlier scores.

But Matt Fagerson, Tuipulotu and Jordan - who scored 20 points - settled a remarkable match that will leave both defence coaches fuming.

The win lifts Glasgow top of the United Rugby Championship on points difference ahead of Saturday's fixtures.

But how this basketball game of a rugby match twice became a four-point contest will baffle Warriors head coach Franco Smith after they led 33-12 at the break with a bonus in the bag.

Smith had branded Cardiff the “surprise package” of the league after the Welsh side took maximum points from their opening two games.

But this was always set to be their first real test and so it proved.

Warren Gatland was among the 6,200-strong Arms Park crowd and will have been pleased at the performances of Ben Thomas and front-row pair Corey Domachowski and Kieron Assiratti at the scrum.

But Glasgow have lost only once to Cardiff since 2016 and gave the pretenders a harsh lesson in finishing with five first half-tries, including four from distance.

Dobie kick-started the scoring on six minutes, fending off Winnett before stepping past Callum Sheedy.

And though Cardiff replied twice, from Dan Thomas’ shove on Dobie and then Winnett finishing from a dominant scrum, Warriors were unruffled.

Rowe crashed through to level before Glasgow stunned the Arms Park with three tries in eight minutes before the break.

Fly-half Jordan picked off Sheedy’s delayed pass and ran it back 70 metres, Tuipulotu bashed off three tackles in a barnstorming run before his midfield partner Jones followed suit.

It was little wonder that Sherratt rang the changes at half time, including the entire front-row and both half-backs.

That galvanised Cardiff who somehow hauled themselves back into the game through replacements Byrne and Martin in quick succession.

It was a bizarre three-minute cameo for Martin who then had to leave the pitch as Cardiff conceded uncontested scrums following injuries to hookers Liam Belcher and Evan Lloyd.

The free scoring continued as both teams kept the scoreboard ticking over, Glasgow through Fagerson from a line-out and Rowe, who simply kicked and pushed his way through.

Donnell scored for Cardiff, but scrum-half Ellis Bevan dropped a golden chance before Jordan brought a bizarre game to an end.

Mackenzie Martin clinched a bonus point for Cardiff

Cardiff head coach Matt Sherratt said: "It was a rollercoaster of a game and a difficult one to manage with players getting injured and going down to 14.

"I told the players at half time not to chase the 21-point deficit because we just needed to score first to help change momentum.

"The period before half time was disappointing, but you have to credit the players because that could have got messy."

Glasgow head coach Franco Smith said: "We made a nine changes this week and we're still pulling everyone together at the start of this season.

"You can't excuse some errors, but we showed some moments of individual brilliance to score a lot of points.

"We got rattled at one point in the second half, but I'd rather win that way than lose."

Cardiff: Cam Winnett; Mason Grady, Rey Lee-Lo, Ben Thomas, Harri Millard; Callum Sheedy, Aled Davies; Corey Domachowski, Liam Belcher (capt), Keiron Assiratti, Josh McNally, Teddy Williams, Ben Donnell, Dan Thomas, Alun Lawrence.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Ed Byrne, Rhys Litterick, Rory Thornton, Mackenzie Martin, Ellis Bevan, Tinus de Beer, Gabriel Hamer-Webb.

Glasgow Warriors: Josh McKay; Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Facundo Cordero; Tom Jordan, Jamie Dobie; Rory Sutherland, Johnny Matthews, Sam Talakai, Alex Samuel, Scott Cummings, Gregor Brown, Matt Fagerson, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Jamie Bhatti, Patrick Schickerling, Richie Gray, Max Williamson, Euan Ferrie, Ben Afshar, Duncan Weir.

Referee: Morne Ferreira (SARU)

Assistant referees: Rhys Jones & Gareth Newman (WRU)

TMO: Griffon Colby (SARU)