Cardiff Blues 12-29 Glasgow Warriors
Two tries either side of half time combined with a dogged defensive effort saw Glasgow overcome the hosts 12-29 and leapfrog their opponents into 2ndin Pool 3.
On a bright but cold day in the Welsh Capital Glasgow got off to the perfect start. Matt Fagerson picking a lovely line in attack and breaching the Cardiff defence.
As the ball was recycled, strong carries from the Glasgow pack sucked in the Cardiff defence so that when it was flung wide Adam Hastings had space to exploit which he did with just two minutes gone.
Two minutes later and Glasgow were in dreamland having scored a second. Huw Jones this time skipping through the tackle before finding DTH van der Merwe on his outside to do what he does best and finish clinically.
12 points up in four minutes, Glasgow didn’t let their intensity drop. As the hosts came back into the game the Warriors showed the same defence dog that won them plaudits in their home defeat to Saracens seven days prior.
Cardiff visited the Glasgow 22 on multiple occasions only to be met by a ferocious wall of blue forcing mistakes and winning turnovers.
Adam Hastings extended Glasgow’s lead with a penalty and as the half drew to a close Cardiff looked certain to score but for a perfectly timed tackle from Sam Johnson. 0-15 the score with 40 minutes played.
Having scored after two minutes in the first half the Warriors were at it again in the second period.
Off a set piece Glasgow picked the right play and DTH ran a perfect arcing run that split the Cardiff defence.
A simple inside pass to Ali Price left the Blues’ full back no chance and Hastings’ conversion gave the visitors a commanding lead.
Cardiff refused to roll over and scored a try of their own in the corner, capitalising on broken defence kicking through to touch down.
With points in this competition hard to come by Glasgow knew how important a bonus point would be and earned it in impressive style.
Hastings made the initial break in his own 22, offloading to DTH who’s powerful run resulted in an offload to George Horne who in turn offloaded to his brother inside.
The ball was recycled and a clever stab through from the eventual man of the match Hastings was collected by Matt Fagerson who’s offload to Jonny Gray released the lock to run in under the posts.
Bonus point in the bag and Glasgow continued to defend resiliently. A Cardiff try out wide took the hosts into double figures but it was Glasgow who left the Arms Park in high spirits, 12-29 victors.