Glasgow Warriors 21-28 Connacht

Tom Jordan, Angus Fraser and Gregor Brown each crossed for a score as the Warrior Nation returned to Scotstoun, Adam Hastings contributing three conversions on his own return to the home of the Warriors.

On a perfect evening for rugby in the early autumn sunshine at Scotstoun, it was the visitors who made the brighter start, enjoying a flurry of early phases inside Glasgow territory. Excellent goal-line defence led by Jare Oguntibeju would deny Paul Boyle early on, though, delighting the East Stand faithful.

The Irish outfit would make their early territory and possession count on 12 minutes, however, as Dylan Tierney-Martin burrowed his way over from close-range despite the best efforts of the Glasgow pack. Cathal Forde’s conversion attempt bisected the uprights from out wide, and the visitors led 7-0.

Franco Smith’s men would immediately set about fighting back, Angus Fraser denied by a blast of the referee’s whistle and Stafford McDowall’s counter-attack from deep seeing him link up with Jordan on the inside. The latter’s pass would just evade the captain in return, however, allowing Connacht to breathe again.

The response was coming though, and it arrived with 19 minutes on the clock. Euan Ferrie’s opportunistic boot downfield saw the flanker give chase alongside Kyle Rowe, forcing the error from Connacht in defence inside their own 22. The recycled ball found its way to Jordan, the centre shrugging off the tackle and racing under the uprights, Hastings converting to level the scores.

Glasgow’s attack was now clicking into gear, with the centre combination of McDowall and Jordan finding the chemistry that had served the pair well during the 2023/24 season, and the half-back combination of Ben Afshar and Hastings looking lively with ball in hand. Slick hands from the latter almost put Henco Venter through a gap, the back-rower only felled by some alert Connacht defence.

Back would come the visitors in response, with Pete Wilkins’ side the next to trouble the scorers just after the half-hour mark. David O’Connor would eventually emerge with the ball from a close-range surge, Forde converting for a 14-7 advantage.

Once more Glasgow’s riposte was swift, as a trademark charge from Jack Dempsey drew a penalty dispatched to the corner by Hastings. The Warriors maul proved too powerful for the visitors to stop, Fraser dotting down for a score that – allied with Hastings’ conversion – levelled the scores.

The final word in a frenetic opening stanza would belong to Connacht, however, as one final foray into Glasgow’s 22 saw the ball spun wide to Shayne Bolton. The winger would have enough space to squeeze over in the corner, Forde converting superbly for a 21-14 half-time lead.

Smith’s squad were almost back on level terms three minutes after the restart, as slick hands from Jordan and Hastings release Josh McKay. Logan Trotter was just unable to reel in the full-back’s scoring pass, though, and the chance would go begging.

The Warriors were pressing in the early exchanges, with Trotter going close once more and Jordan just inches away from gathering a Hastings chip for his second score of the evening. The pack were also making themselves known, Rory Sutherland and Patrick Schickerling each providing a dynamic ball-carrying presence in the loose.

Instead, though, the visitors would be next to cross the whitewash. Once more it was the Connacht forwards who did the damage, before Bolton provided the finishing touch for the Irish squad’s fourth score of the night. Forde added the extras, and Connacht led 28-14.

With a raft of substitutions from both sides, the flow of the game largely remained confined to the middle third of the pitch until the final 10 minutes, with the Warriors continuing to chase the game. With six minutes to play, the breakthrough came – Jamie Dobie’s quick tap and McDowall’s support saw the ball find McKay, the full-back racing clear. Gregor Brown was there to collect the pass from the resulting breakdown with momentum carrying him over the line, Jordan converting to bring the Warriors back within seven.

Urged on by the Warrior Nation, the home side set about orchestrating one final attacking opportunity, with one eye on tying the game with the clock in the red. Yet the chance would go astray, an errant offload going to Connacht hands to bring about the final whistle.

Whilst disappointed by the result, Glasgow’s fine-tuning continues as the new season looms into view; with 40 players utilised across the club’s brace of pre-season outings, the club’s depth is taking shape nicely ahead of the start of the BKT URC title defence in a fortnight’s time.