Glasgow Warriors 40-31 Northampton Saints

Gregor Hiddleston’s brace, along with tries from Dan Lancaster, Johnny Matthews, Jack Oliver and Josh McKay, gave Franco Smith’s men a well-deserved win in front of a vocal Warrior Nation on their return to Scotstoun.

With the pre-match rain having ceased in advance of the teams making their way onto the field of play, it was Northampton who made the faster start. Callum Chick was the man to convert early possession and territory into points, the number eight barging over for a score that – converted by Anthony Belleau – gave the visitors a 7-0 lead after as many minutes.

Last season’s Investec Champions Cup runners-up continued to apply the early pressure, and were rewarded with a second score after 13 minutes. An impressive try-saving tackle from Kerr Yule was ultimately in vain, with Tom Pearson charging over from the next phase to extend Northampton’s lead. Belleau added the extras, and the Saints led 14-0.

This time, Glasgow’s response was swift. A trademark charge from the returning Jack Dempsey in midfield gave Kerr Yule the platform to release Fergus Watson, the winger searing through the gap and finding Kerr Johnston. Whilst the centre was felled five metres out, Jack Oliver’s pass sent the onrushing Lancaster over the whitewash untouched for the home side’s opening try. Lancaster’s conversion attempt struck the post, but the Warriors were on the board.

Both sides were looking to keep the tempo high at all times, with Ollie Smith almost evading the Northampton cover defence just moments after the restart. Instead, it was the Saints who struck next, Pearson again powering over out wide after Archie McParland’s incision into the Glasgow 22. Belleau’s conversion drifted wide, leaving the scoreline reading 19-5 in favour of the visitors.

Back came the Warriors once more, this time replying with a scintillating counter-attacking effort. Watson was the catalyst, the Scotland U20 flyer shrugging off a tackle after collecting a high ball and hurtling through the gap, beating three defenders on route. The pass to the supporting Oliver was perfectly weighted to send the scrum-half over, Lancaster converting to narrow the deficit to a single score.

An end-to-end encounter continued to deliver tries at pace, Northampton going over for their fourth of the night as the clock ticked past the half-hour mark. George Hendy made the most of an overlap just moments after coming on to dive over in the corner, with Belleau unable to add the extras from the touchline.

Just two minutes later, the Warriors cancelled out the score. Lancaster’s touch-finder from a penalty gave his side a lineout five metres out, and when Gregor Hiddleston’s throw found Alex Samuel, the maul went to work. Hiddleston was the beneficiary to get the ball down for the score, Lancaster converting to bring the Warriors back within five points.

The final word of an all-action opening 40 minutes would also belong to the hosts, and to Hiddleston. Whilst Northampton’s defence proved equal to a second attempt at the short-range maul, there was no stopping the hooker on the charge as he crashed over for the second time. Lancaster converted, giving his side a 26-24 lead at the interval.

Northampton wasted no time restoring their lead after the restart, as Hendy applied the finishing touch to a Henry Walker line break to put his side back in front. Belleau converted, taking the score to 31-26 in favour of the Saints.

With a raft of replacements taking to the field for both sides, it was perhaps no surprise that the scoring would fall into a brief lull for the rest of the third quarter, yet not for the lack of trying on the part of Franco Smith’s men. Their efforts were rewarded on 64 minutes, as repeated infringements from Northampton saw Luke Green sent to the sin bin and Glasgow send the ball to the corner. From there, the result was almost inevitable, Johnny Matthews providing the familiar finish for a score that – allied with Lancaster’s conversion – gave the Warriors a 33-31 advantage.

Glasgow’s young guns were continuing to impress, and with nine minutes to go they would bring the Warrior Nation to its feet. Watson and Johnston combined to deadly effect in the backfield, before Matthew Urwin’s sublime footwork took him into open space. The fly-half simply had to pick out the onrushing Josh McKay on his shoulder for the score, Lancaster adding the conversion to give the Warriors a nine-point cushion.

It was a lead that Smith’s men would hold until the final whistle sounded, the Warrior Nation rising to applaud their charges as they departed the field. An enjoyable end to the pre-season campaign – all attentions now turn to a fortnight’s time, and the visit of the Hollywoodbets Sharks to Scotstoun to kick-start the new BKT URC season.

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— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) July 15, 2025