Got an opinion?
Discuss this article in the comments section or register with the glasgowwarriors.com forum.

Search this site

December 01, 2007

Connacht 10 - 6 Glasgow Warriors

Celtic League match played at Galway Sportsground on Friday November 30th 2007 | 6 comments

Al Kellock went off with an elbow injury
Glasgow blew an opportunity to climb the Magners League in horrendous conditions at the Galway Sportsground.

This was Connacht's first Magners League win since the opening day of the season while the Warriors slipped to only their second defeat in eight matches in all competitions.

The game's only try arrived in first-half injury-time when home hooker Adrian Flavin sneaked over following a well-worked lineout move.

Two penalties from Dan Parks kept Glasgow in the hunt but a 62nd-minute penalty strike from fly-half Andy Dunne secured Connacht their eventual winning margin.

The first half began in atrocious conditions and an almost incessant downpour dominated the first 30 minutes' play.

Glasgow had the backing of a heavy gale but struggled to stamp their authority on the game and it was the hosts who seemed more suited to the conditions.

Connacht's hard-working pack put in a fiery effort, taking the game to the Scots with Dunne, who was making his first start for the province since his switch from Leinster, showing some nice touches at number 10.

Glasgow broke the deadlock in the 26th minute when Parks punished a ruck infringement with a smart shot from 42 metres out.

But Connacht ended the half on the up and should have done better when they had 12 phases of possession inside the Scots' 22.

Glasgow's defence looked like it would hold out during this late bout of pressure but they leaked a soft try in injury time.

Connacht missed a chance to get level when Dunne pushed a penalty to the right and wide. Yet the Irishmen quickly regrouped and forced a lineout. Flavin quickly took it, received a return pass and nipped over from four metres out for a crucial score.

Luck then favoured Connacht when Dunne's conversion attempt brushed in off the crossbar for a 7-3 interval lead.

The conditions improved during a tight second half and Glasgow also upped their effort, with a Parks place kick reducing the gap to a single point.

Dunne cancelled that out after a great tackle from Ray Ofisa on Andrew Henderson led to a Connacht penalty.

Dunne then missed a drop-goal attempt and sent a kickable 35-metre penalty chance to the right of the posts.

Referee N Ballard(Wales)
Attendance 1500
Team
1
Justin Va'a
2
Fergus Thomson
3
Moray Low
4
Andy Newman
5
Alastair Kellock
6
Kelly Brown
7
John Barclay
8
John Beattie
9
Chris O'Young
10
Dan Parks
11
Thom Evans
12
Andrew Henderson
13
Graeme Morrison
14
Lome Fa'atau
15
Bernardo Stortoni
Sub
Dougie Hall
Sub
Michael Collins
Sub
Opeta Palepoi
Sub
James Eddie
Sub
Sam Pinder
Sub
Scott Barrow
Sub
Hefin O'Hare
Match Substitutions
Off On
Alastair Kellock Opeta Palepoi
Off On
Thom Evans Hefin O'Hare
Off On
Chris O'Young Sam Pinder
Off On
Fergus Thomson Dougie Hall
Off On
Andy Newman James Eddie
Off On
Andrew Henderson Scott Barrow
Off On
Justin Va'a Michael Collins
Scorers
Dan Parks Penalty
Dan Parks Penalty
Comments
Posted by bossco85 on December 1, 2007 02:15 PM | Reply to this comment

disaster. If this team has any asperations of bigger than mid table they will have to beat teams like Connacht on the road, its as simle as that. I know it sounds harsh but its just not good enough for us to loose games against teams that should b a guarenteed three points, the Borders cant bail us out now!

Posted by Phall on December 2, 2007 11:30 AM | Reply to this comment

How do you get 3 points? A draw with a try bonus?

Connacht are a solid side with a good home track record, it is a great conceit to dismiss them. Something we were complaining about not so long ago. We only just shaded them at Firhill and were lucky to get a dodgy try.

Posted by sunday5 on December 2, 2007 11:35 AM | Reply to this comment

Nah, we should've beaten them.

Posted by bossco85 on December 2, 2007 01:35 PM | Reply to this comment

4 points or whatever then, it makes no differnce it should still have been a win, end of.. We have beaten Connacht away with teams not as strog as this one, it should of been a banker.

Posted by Sluggershug on December 2, 2007 12:45 PM | Reply to this comment

This should have been a banker!

Posted by mediumsizedal on December 2, 2007 04:30 PM | Reply to this comment

Sorry Phall-but if Glasgow are to make any impression they need to beat teams at the bottom of the league both home & away. Yes Connacht are solid & the conditions favoured their game style, but the Glasgow side that started had 11 full internationals + some 'A' caps-how many did Connacht have?? This type of performance is unsatisfactory. Looks like another mid table finish-despite all the words of encouragement from players/coaches at the start of the season that Glasgow were a team going places. Hopefully this result was a blip and that the side can start winning away games,because if they can't then it leads to finishing mid table which would be very disappointing. I appreciate that with so many new players this session there would be problems gelling,but that should have been sorted out by now!!

Add a comment to this article

If you're replying to an existing comment, please use the 'Reply to this comment' link above the entry. This will display the comments in a way which is far easier for other readers to follow.