Connacht’s season isn’t finishing any better than the last few weeks as they already looked beaten in Scotstoun Stadium in their penultimate Guinness PRO14 tie.
Three tries look set to guarantee the hosts the victory and also a home semi-final thanks to Stuart Hogg, Alex Dunbar and Fraser Brown.
Kieran Keane’s men got off to a fantastic start and were over in less than two minutes. Finlay Bealham finished for the try that looked set to lift the doom after last week’s heavy loss to Ospreys.
But by the fourth minute, Glasgow Warriors were ahead. Johnny Gray and DTH Van Der Merwe did the work before Hogg got the try. Pete Horne made the conversion count.
Horne has been accurate during the first 40 minutes and added three penalties to leave it 16-5 entering the second quarter before Jack Carty responded with a Connacht three-pointer.
But Glasgow’s pressure eventually told. The broke the tackle that allowed Dunbar get in for their second try on 27 minutes and Horne made it 23-8.
Former Connacht player Frank Murphy was assigned refereeing duties and his old loyalties to the province hasn’t affected his judgment. After taking a couple of seconds in injury time, he gave Brown the third touchdown. Horne added again and it’s looking like another long night for Connacht.
Glasgow Warriors: Stuart Hogg (5 – try); Tommy Seymour, Alex Dunbar (5 – try), Sam Johnson, DTH Van der Merwe; Pete Horne (15 – three penalties, three conversions), Henry Pygros; Alex Allan, Fraser Brown (5 – try), Zander Fagerson; Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray; Rob Harley, Callum Gibbins, Matt Fagerson.
Connacht: Darragh Leader; Niyi Adeolokun, Bundee Aki, Peter Robb, Matt Healy; Jack Carty (3 – penalty), Kieran Marmion; Denis Buckley, Tom McCartney, Finlay Bealham (5 – try); Ultan Dillane, Quinn Roux; Eoghan Masterson, Jarrad Butler, Eoin McKeon.
Referee: Frank Murphy
