Leinster 37-19 Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow Warriors saw their BKT United Rugby Championship title defence come to an end at the semi-final stage in Dublin, as Leinster emerged with a 37-19 victory at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon.

The home side out-scored their visitors by six tries to three to advance to the Grand Final, with George Horne, Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu registering Glasgow’s response.

With the smoke still clearing from the pre-game pyrotechnics, it was Leinster who made the stronger start, striking with their first foray not Glasgow territory. Sustained phases of possession inside the Glasgow 22 eventually allowed Jamison Gibson-Park to send Dan Sheehan over the whitewash, Sam Prendergast converting for a 7-0 lead after three minutes.

Glasgow’s response was immediate. Sione Tuipulotu’s cutout pass provided the catalyst, Josh McKay tipping the ball on to a flying Kyle Rowe to send the winger racing up the touchline. Rowe’s chip ahead was immaculately measured for the onrushing Horne, and whilst the ensuing conversion drifted wide, the Warriors had made their early statement.

The Warriors were getting stuck in throughout the early exchanges, Rory Darge’s defence and a lung-busting kick-chase from Scott Cummings setting the tone. Tom Jordan was also looking to get involved early, a strong line and carry taking him through a challenge from Prendergast and into the Leinster 22.

As the skies opened, momentum swung back towards the home side. Prendergast made no mistake with a penalty from straight in front of the posts with 22 minutes on the clock, extending the Leinster lead to 10-5. It was a lead that the home support thought had been stretched yet further just three minutes later, only for the officials to correctly spot a forward pass from Gibson-Park in the build-up and chalk off the score.

There would be no denying the men in blue on 27 minutes, though, as Leinster capitalised on a fortuitous bounce to score their second try. Jimmy O’Brien was quickest to react as a ball was batted back in the aerial exchanges, linking up with James Lowe to send Jamie Osborne over in the corner. The conversion from the touchline sailed off target, leaving the scoreline reading 15-5 in favour of the hosts.

The home side were looking to capitalise on their momentum, and with seven minutes remaining in the opening half Leinster found a way over for their third score. It would be Thomas Clarkson who found the crucial metre after strong initial lineout defence from the Warriors, Prendergast off target once more from the tee to leave his side’s advantage at 20-5.

With the Aviva Stadium urging them on, there was to be a final salvo from Leinster as the clock ticked into the red. It came from the set-piece, Sheehan being driven over by a 13-man maul to touch down for his side’s fourth try. The conversion was off-target, but the home side had a 25-5 lead at the interval.

Whilst Prendergast missed the opportunity to extend his side’s lead after striking the post with a penalty attempt on 50 minutes, the next score would still be Leinster’s as the home side continued to apply the pressure. Gibson-Park’s wide ball once again found the gap in the defence to send Osborne over for his second of the afternoon, Prendergast converting for a 32-5 advantage with 25 minutes to play.

Every 50-50 bounce seemed to be going the way of the hosts, with Leinster taking full advantage. A high ball taken by Lowe sparked another counter attack as the winger tip-toed down the touchline, before keeping the ball alive with Gibson-Park. Recycled ball was spun all the way to the opposite touchline by Prendergast and Jack Conan, before Ciaran Frawley found the space to dive over. The conversion was astray, but the home support were in no mood to mind.

The Warriors were going down swinging, Darge continuing to lead the charge in defence, before McKay and Johnny Matthews almost combined to send Tom Jordan over after an 80-metre breakout from their own 22. Their persistence was rewarded with nine minutes to play, Dobie spotting the gap from 15 metres out to snipe his way over for the score. Jordan converted, as the Warriors looked to finish on a high.

Indeed Franco Smith’s side would do exactly that, and in sparkling fashion. Dobie’s wide pass from a lineout on the Leinster 22 found Tuipulotu, who cut back against the grain to beat three defenders, before sidestepping the last man to touch down. Jordan once again converted, giving some final gloss to the scoreline.

It would be Leinster arms raised aloft in celebration as the full-time whistle sounded against a backdrop of hailstones, however – it’s the Irish outfit that march on to the Grand Final, as Glasgow’s title defence comes to an end.