Glasgow Warriors 31-22 Munster

First-half tries from Ollie Smith, Dan Lancaster, Jare Oguntibeju and Josh McKay secured all five points for Franco Smith’s men, as the hosts moved clear at the top of the BKT United Rugby Championship standings.

The Warrior Nation didn’t have to wait long for the first score of the night, and it was a score well worthy of the ovation it received. Having defended solidly for the game’s first five minutes, Glasgow’s attack needed no second invitation to cut loose when presented with their first opportunity. Sublime handling in the midfield from Stafford McDowall and Kerr Yule freed Josh McKay, who in turn sent Kyle Rowe racing into space. Quick ball was then spun all the way across to Smith on the opposing touchline, the winger finishing superbly with limited space in which to work. Lancaster slotted the conversion from the touchline, and the hosts had a 7-0 lead.

It would get even better for the Warriors – and for Lancaster – just 90 seconds after the restart. The fly-half’s line speed saw him read the play to perfection, picking off an interception and cantering home untouched from halfway to touch down under the posts. He then added the extras for good measure, giving the Warriors a 14-0 lead with eight minutes played.

Munster’s response came in kind moments later, the men in red striking for their first score. This time it was Ethan Coughlan who identified the interception, the scrum-half finishing from 30 metres to get his side on the board. The conversion drifted astray, leaving the scoreline reading 14-5 in Glasgow’s favour.

Undeterred, the Glasgow attack continued to look dangerous at every opportunity; Ally Miller was a fingertip away from sending McKay over after the latter’s kick in behind, whilst only a last-ditch turnover could prevent Kerr Yule from crashing through five metres from the Munster try-line.

Momentum was beginning to tell, and it resulted in the Warriors crossing for a third try just after the half-hour mark. Successive penalties saw the hosts set up camp in the Munster 22, and whilst McKay was stopped a matter of inches short with advantage in hand, there was no stopping Oguntibeju on the follow-up carry as the big man crashed over in front of the West Stand. Lancaster made it three from three from the tee, and the Warriors led 21-5.

Franco Smith’s men were now in search of a first-half bonus-point, and as the clock ticked past 40 minutes the Warrior Nation greeted its arrival. Belligerent carrying from the Glasgow pack once more laid the foundations, before Lancaster’s pass sent McKay haring over for the all-important fourth try. The Scotstoun faithful were still applauding as Lancaster’s conversion sailed through the uprights, a 28-5 lead in the pocket at half-time.

A fifth try almost arrived in memorable fashion for Seb Stephen five minutes after the restart, the hooker’s burst down the touchline only halted by the officials after a knock-on earlier in the play. Instead, it was Munster who would open the scoring in the second stanza, Dan Kelly’s solo burst from fully 70 metres out proving unstoppable as the centre touched down in the corner. Tony Butler couldn’t navigate the wind to add the extras, leaving the scoreline reading 28-10 in favour of the home side.

Still the Warriors came forward, with Sam Talakai and Sione Vailanu each making their presence felt after their respective introductions from the bench with a series of thunderous carries in the loose. Once more, though, the next score was Munster’s, as Brian Gleeson capitalised on a mistake at the lineout to pick up and dart clear as the game moved into its final quarter. The conversion was off target, but the gap was narrowed to 28-15.

With the wind at their backs, Munster were now in the ascendency when it came to possession and territory, and crossed for a fourth try of their own with 15 minutes remaining. Swift hands created the overlap, Diarmuid Kilgallen having more than enough pace to apply the finish inside the Glasgow 22. On his debut, Tom Wood added the extras, bringing the visitors back within a score.

Once more though, the Warriors kept their cool in the face of the Munster onslaught. Lancaster yet again provided the catalyst, the fly-half dummying his way through the defensive line and sprinting into the Munster 22. When the visitors transgressed in the shadow of their own posts, Lancaster was on hand to dust himself down and calmly slot the resulting penalty, giving his side a nine-point cushion.

That would be the final act of scoring for the night, though not for the want of trying from those in black. Talakai’s power at the set-piece almost yielded a try for Vailanu from the base of the scrum, whilst Dylan Cockburn was a hand away from a score on his professional debut. Yet the Warrior Nation were in no mood to complain, as their side closed out a ninth consecutive victory – and ensured their place at the top of the BKT URC standings as the Guinness Six Nations takes centre stage.