Ospreys 17-42 Glasgow Warriors

Jamie Dobie’s brace – in a Player of the Match-winning performance -, along with a 50^th try in club colours for Johnny Matthews, a first Glasgow try for Macenzzie Duncan, and scores from Kyle Steyn and Euan Ferrie, secured the maximum haul for the Warriors on their first visit to Bridgend in over two decades.

With the pre-kick-off rain having abated for the opening whistle, it was the Ospreys who thought they had made the ideal start, as captain Dewi Lake rumbled over from a close-range lineout. The officials had other ideas, however, spotting an obstruction at the set-piece and chalking off the score.

Instead, it was the Warriors who struck first. Dobie’s clever kick in behind gave Franco Smith’s side the field position, before the forwards provided the platform for Kyle Rowe to charge towards the line. Whilst the winger was stopped just short, there was no denying Dobie as he picked up and sniped for the whitewash, Adam Hastings converting for a 7-0 lead after nine minutes of play.

The home side took just four minutes to respond in kind, making the most of their own set-piece platform to open up a gap for Reuben Morgan-Williams to dart over next to the posts and touch down. Dan Edwards converted, and the scores were level once more.

Almost straight from the restart, the Warriors hit back themselves. Swift hands from Sione Tuipulotu and Matt Fagerson sent Steyn racing clear up the touchline, his chip and chase regathered by Fagerson just 10 metres out. Good patience then allowed Tuipulotu and Hastings to spring Stafford McDowall, the centre’s wide pass allowing Steyn to canter over untouched. Hastings added the extras superbly from the touchline, restoring his side’s seven-point advantage.

Edwards narrowed the deficit to four points with 23 minutes on the clock, as the game continued to be fiercely contested in the midfield. Lake was sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle on Murphy Walker with 28 minutes played, with Max Williamson almost making the extra man count just a moment later after charging down Morgan-Williams’ attempted clearance.

Glasgow continued to press, with only some last-ditch Ospreys goal-line defence denying Patrick Schickerling from close-range. Yet whilst the mean in teal were unable to add to their tally with the extra man, they would strike with the final play of the half for their third try of the evening. Repeated penalties inside the Ospreys 22 saw Hastings direct his pack to the corner, an unstoppable maul sending Matthews over for his 50^th try in Glasgow Warriors colours. The conversion split the uprights, and the Warriors had a 21-10 lead at the interval.

With the Bridgend faithful urging their team on, the Ospreys came out of the changing rooms with renewed intent, and were rewarded with their second try just four minutes after the restart. Morgan-Williams and Edwards dictated play inside the Glasgow 22, before quick hands sent Luke Morgan diving into the corner. Edwards converted from the touchline despite the cross-wind, bringing his side back within four points.

Glasgow’s response took less than three minutes to arrive, bringing with it the attacking bonus-point. Powerful work at the maul once again set up field position on the Ospreys 22, the Warriors moving patiently through the phases as they waited for the opportunity to arrive. When it did, Dobie needed no second invitation to take full advantage, the scrum-half sprinting through a gap to race home from the 22 and touch down under the posts. Hastings converted, and the Warriors led 28-17.

Dobie almost found himself grabbing a hat-trick on 57 minutes, just losing out in a foot race with Daniel Kasende in pursuit of Steyn’s kick ahead. Instead, the next try would arrive from the forwards, and in free-flowing style; great work from Tuipulotu and McDowall in the midfield created space for Ollie Smith in the wide channels, the full-back drawing the last defender and sending Ferrie over the line. Once again Hastings made no mistake from the tee, giving his side a 35-17 lead at the hour mark.

The visitors were motoring now, and as the game entered its final 10 minutes, there was more to celebrate for Smith’s men. Once more it was the pack that did the damage, as replacement hooker Seb Stephen found Alex Craig before the maul engaged forward gear. Duncan eventually emerged with the ball after grounding for his first try for the club, Dan Lancaster converting to bring the curtain down on a successful evening at Brewery Field.

A first away win of the season and a full five points heading back up the road – the Warriors will look to keep the momentum rolling next Friday night, as they welcome the Vodacom Bulls to Scotstoun.