Glasgow strengthen grip on URC top spot in Leinster win
- Published
United Rugby Championship
Glasgow Warriors (26) 38
Tries: Duncan, Hiddleston, Horne 2, Rowe, Smith Cons: Horne 4
Leinster (12) 17
Tries: Kenny, Keenan, Frawley Cons: Prendergast
Glasgow Warriors strengthened their place at the top of the URC with a bonus-point win over a strong Leinster side as their rivalry continues to deepen in the tussle for another title.
Franco Smith's men are now eight points clear at the top, after Ulster were beaten by Connacht earlier in the weekend.
It was Leinster's ill-discipline that undid them at Scotstoun, with Glasgow striking four times while the Irish side were briefly down to 13 men in the first half.
It was Leo Cullen's side who got the scoring started when All Blacks star Reiko Ioane nabbed the ball inside his own 22m and sent young winger Joshua Kenny flying along the wing to dot down.
However, Glasgow responded with four tries of their own to secure the bonus point before they reached half-time.
With Leinster's Brian Deeny in the bin, a set-piece move from a tap-and-go 5m out put Maccenzie Duncan over the line - some way to celebrate signing his first pro deal at Scotstoun.
From the restart, Leinster went down to 13 men when Ronan Kelleher was adjudged to have put in a high tackle on Stafford McDowall. After a bunker review, the card remained yellow.
The Warriors immediately made use of the extra two men, with Gregor Hiddleston scoring at the back of a driving maul before George Horne scored a breakaway try after line breaks from centre partnership McDowall and Johnny Ventisei, the latter making his pro debut.
The fourth try was the pick of the bunch from one of Glasgow's form players.
Receiving the ball on the edge of his own 22m line, Kyle Rowe burned past Ireland international Jimmy O'Brien before hacking on and collecting his own kick.
In the corner, he even had the composure to dance inside the last defender and score undoubtedly one of the best tries of his career.
There was still time in the first half for Leinster to score, sucking players in at a driving maul before spreading wide for Hugo Keenan to dart over.
The second half was a low-scoring affair in comparison to the first, but the all-important try came Glasgow's way when Ollie Smith spun out of three tackles to break free and score to seal the game for the hosts.
Leinster kept fighting, and gave themselves hope of a losing bonus point when replacement Ciaran Frawley fought through the bodies to cross the line.
But it was Glasgow who scored just before the end as Josh McKay broke the line and fed Horne, who crossed for his second and the Warriors' sixth try before a good, old-fashioned dust up that ended up with Adam Hastings and Rabah Slimani going to the bin.
Hastings, who will depart for Montpellier in the summer, was cheered from the pitch by the home fans after ruffling the feathers of opposite number Sam Prendergast.
In another sterling season for Glasgow and Franco Smith, this marked a statement win against a Leinster side with plenty of recognisable names.
The Warriors team was considerably depleted with plenty still on rest from Scotland duty, but Smith has built such unbelievable depth at the Warriors that their standards rarely dip, if at all.
Glasgow Warriors: McKay, Rowe, Ventisei, McDowall (c), Smith; Lancaster, Horne; Schickerling, Hiddleston, Richardson, Craig, Samuel, Ferrie, Vailanu, Duncan.
Replacements: Stephen, Sutherland, Talakai, Oguntibeju, Miller, Fraser, Oliver, Hastings.
Leinster: Keenan, Kenny, Ioane, Henshaw, J O'Brien; S Prendergast, McGrath (c); Usanov, Kelleher, Clarkson, Snyman, Deeny, Connan, Connors, Culhane.
Replacements: McKee, Sahir, Slimani, O'Tighearnaigh, Deegan, Penny, Gunne, Frawley.
Referee: Adam Jones.