Glasgow Warriors 17 Ulster 11: Fortress Scotstoun remains
It was a tough battle in front of a sold-out Scotstoun, but it was the Warriors who were victorious, stretching their unbeaten streak to 10 on the bounce. The first half was not the Glasgow side the Warrior Nation has been used to seeing in recent games but after battling not only Ulster but the weather they clawed it back in the second half to reign victorious. It was a scrappy battle right to the end from both sides and the weather did not help matters. That is 2 games in a row now that Glasgow have not been their best and have done just enough to get the result they need. But a win is a win, there is no denying that the win tonight has put Franco Smith and his team in a stronger position heading into South Africa next week.
Last minutes changes for the home side before kick-off as they were forced into an early change after Sebastian Cancelliere was ruled out. This change meant Josh McKay came into the fullback jersey and Ollie Smith moved to the wing to join Cole Forbes.
It was Franco Smith’s men who got us underway, and they came out the blocks swinging. They were all over Ulster in the opening minutes of the game, but the ball was turned over and took the pressure off the visitors.
After the fast pace of the opening 10 minutes, the game slowed down and became a bit start stop with both teams refusing to give an inch.
Ulster looked like they had a strong attack on the go when it was spilt, and Dempsey was quick to cover, and Glasgow started going through the phases again. The visitors had lost two lineouts in the Glasgow 22 and the home side’s lineout has been superb with the return of Scott Cummings.
Just shy of 20 minutes after another strong maul from the Glasgow men, the Scotstoun loyal erupted as Sione Vailanu dots down over the whitewash to draw first blood. Tom Jordan’s kick went wide meaning Glasgow were only 5 points up.
Ulster didn’t take long to try and fight back. 5 metres out the Ulster attack from James Hume was swallowed by the Glasgow defence and out-popped the ball. The penalty count kept going up as once again the home side were penalised giving the Irishmen free play in the Glasgow 22.
Glasgow did a hell of a job to hold the ball up over the line after a strong attack by Ulster and win a goal-line dropout.
After countless penalties Ulster get the try, they were looking for after Harry Sheridan crashed over the whitewash a couple phases after a key lineout in the Glasgow 22. It was all square at Scotstoun as Nathan Doak’s kick also went wide.
Glasgow looked ready to strike again, but they were again penalised at the breakdown. Ulster looked dangerous as Glasgow missed a couple tackles which allowed the visitors up and into the Glasgow 22 once again. The Ulster attack was relentless but eventually, the home side’s defence was rewarded with a penalty.
Off the back of their lineout, the Warriors were electric, working the ball through the hands. A chip over the top from Jamie Dobie gave Ulster possession, however. Smith’s men needed to watch their discipline as the penalty count was rising.
Johnny Matthews secured the turnover after a long Ulster attack which was meant by a roar from the Scotstoun loyal, but it didn’t take long for the visitors to gain another advantage which they made good on after Johnny Matthews was penalised for a high tackle. They opted for the 3 points and Doak made no mistake from the tee this time.
Halftime Glasgow Warriors 5 Ulster 8.
It was the Irishmen who got us underway in the second half, but it was Glasgow who came out swinging. Scott Cummings was the man leading the charge predominantly.
Once again, the game reached a standstill as neither team were going to give an inch. This didn’t stop Glasgow from trying though, phase after phase they were trying to poke holes in the Ulster defence.
A silly mistake from the skipper Stafford McDowall saw Ulster awarded another penalty. The conditions did not help this, the rain made the ball like a bar of soap.
Ulster took advantage and went galloping up the field only to be taken down just shy of the Glasgow 22. Another penalty against the home side allowed Ulster the kick to the corner to test the Glasgow defence once again. With Scott Cummings in the side, that test was more difficult than Ulster thought especially during the lineout.
Glasgow’s Sam Johnson forced the turnover in his own 15-metre line and Dobie thumped the ball down towards halfway which was met with another roar from the home crowd.
Franco Smith began making changes just shy of the hour mark, replacing the front row, Jamie Dobie, and Scott Cummings, who put in a hell of a shift on his first night back.
Glasgow looked like they were not for giving up as the subs did their job and brought new energy to the team despite the wind and rain. And it didn’t take long for that energy to turn into points!
Jack Dempsey went quite literally sliding across the whitewash off the back of yet another strong lineout deep inside the Ulster half. Tom Jordan couldn’t quite beat the elements as his kick went just wide of the posts. Glasgow 10 Ulster 8 at 65 minutes.
Ali Price looked to have his ears pinned back as he galloped down the pitch. He kept the ball alive with a cheeky pass off to Johnson, but Ulster scrambled and covered when the home side looked set to strike again.
More changes for Smith as he swaps Jordan for Duncan Weir for the last 10 minutes.
Off the back of a huge scrum penalty, you would have expected the Scots to have gone for the points but instead, they opted for the corner, desperately seeking another try.
The Glasgow lineout was unstoppable as once again off the back of a maul, Glasgow got their third try of the evening with 6 minutes to go. Fraser Brown tucked himself at the back of the maul waiting to break off and when he did Ulster could not stop him. Duncan Weir stepped up to take the kick and did not make a mistake, Warriors were .
Glasgow were going to play this game to the last minute, the forwards did the incredible and stole the ball in the scrum to set up yet another attack. It didn’t take long for Ulster to bring their fight back as they refused to go quietly.
Once again it was the home side who were penalised inside their own half and Ulster took advantage as they went to go for the extra 3. John Cooney’s kick was clean, and the Irishmen had the last word on this game.
Full-time Glasgow Warriors 17 Ulster 11.
On the whistle, Glasgow’s head coach Franco Smith said on the whistle he was “pleased with the defensive effort and the physicality both in defence and attack”. When asked about Scott Cummings he also said; “compliments to our medical staff and our return to play group getting Scott back in that form so soon after his injury. It was fantastic to see him back.”
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