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January 31, 2016

Ospreys 20 - 20 Glasgow Warriors

GUINNESS PRO12 match played at Liberty Stadium on Sunday January 31st 2016 | No comments

Gordon Reid went over for Glasgow's second try
Glasgow Warriors had to settle for a draw in today's PRO12 match against Ospreys at Liberty Stadium.

The Warriors made a strong start and two penalties from Duncan Weir gave them the lead within the first 10 minutes of the match.

Sam Davies struck back for the Ospreys with a penalty in the 19th minute following a collapsed maul. Eli Walker scored the first try of the match in the 23rd minute following a smart back line move from the hosts. The winger went under the posts from just outside the Glasgow 22 with Davies successfully converted to give the hosts a four point advantage.

Some good attacking play gave Glasgow the perfect response just two minutes later, Rory Hughes seizing upon fine offload from Leone Nakarawa to touch down in the corner. Weir followed up with a conversion to restore the visitors' lead.

Davies levelled the scores three minutes after the break with a penalty taking the match to 13-13.

It took until the 53rd minute for the next score to come, Glasgow replacement prop Gordon Reid adjudged by the TMO as the man who touched down following a long spell of Warriors pressure on the Ospreys try-line. The score was converted by Weir taking the visitors up to the 20 point mark.

The hosts drew level in the 69th minute, a flick inside from Davies set Evans to score his side's second try of the match. Davies converted the try to take the final score to 20-20.

The draw moves the Warriors back up to eighth in the PRO12 and 11 points from the top with two games in hand.

Following the game Gregor Townsend said: "I was really pleased with the way we started the game.

"You would expect the home team to come out the blocks but we got into the right areas on a number of occasions in the first-half, but we're probably disappointed we didn't get more points on the board through that territorial dominance.

"I felt in the second-half we carried on where we left off and it was a very competitive game. We built that seven point lead but we probably needed another three points and a bit more control in their 22 to see out the game.

"We missed too many tackles at the end which gave Ospreys the try and a bit of hope that they could win the game and we have to improve our discipline as we gave Ospreys some easy outs by giving away penalties.

"I was really pleased with the work rate of the wingers and over the piece a number of players played well.

"It was an excellent game to watch and a high quality match, which is a credit to the PRO12 and it shows Ospreys will definitely be in the mix come the end of the season."

A number of players will now be given some time off ahead of the Warriors next fixture away to Ulster a week on Friday, but other players will be playing international rugby for their respective countries.

The Glasgow head coach said: "Greg Peterson is away to play for USA next week and Shalva Mamukashvili is away playing for Georgia. We'll also have some players playing for Scotland against England next weekend, while other players will get a bit of a break.

"We have a Friday game away from home against Ulster the night before Scotland play Wales, which will be a real challenge as they are a quality side.

"We know if we do pick up an away win it's almost like double points because the team you're playing are probably banking on getting the win to stay in the top four.

"Today shows we're a competitive side and the players are working hard in training, but there is still a bit of work to do.

"We'll be working with this squad throughout the RBS 6 Nations to help them improve and if we get into positions like today when the win is almost within our grasp, we need to come away with the win."

Referee Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Attendance
Team
1
Ryan Grant
2
Pat MacArthur
3
Sila Puafisi
4
Greg Peterson
5
Leone Nakarawa
6
Robert Harley
7
Chris Fusaro
8
Ryan Wilson
9
Grayson Hart
10
Duncan Weir
11
Rory Hughes
12
Sam Johnson
13
Taqele Naiyaravoro
14
Lee Jones
15
Peter Murchie
Sub
James Malcolm
Sub
Gordon Reid
Sub
D'arcy Rae
Sub
Josh Strauss
Sub
James Eddie
Sub
Ali Price
Sub
Gregor Hunter
Sub
Glenn Bryce