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December 15, 2018

Glasgow Warriors 21 - 10 Lyon

Champions Cup match played at Scotstoun on Saturday December 15th 2018 | No comments

Ice-pack or hot water bottle? Nikola Matawalu scored both Glasgow tries
Glasgow overcame Lyon in atrocious conditions in this afternoon's Champions Cup meeting at Scotstoun.

The 21-10 victory over Lyon saw wing Nikola Matawalu cross twice while fly-half Adam Hastings contributed 11 points off the kicking tee.

The game was played in horrendous conditions that hindered both sides and meant it was difficult for Glasgow to maintain their early momentum and chase the four-try bonus point.

Pierre-Louis Barassi's try after the break set up a tense finish, but Glasgow held on in horrific conditions.

Etienne Oosthuizen was sent off for an elbow to the face of Adam Hastings in the final 10 minutes.

The Warriors stay four points behind pool three leaders Saracens, who beat Cardiff Blues 26-14 in Wales.

Glasgow were "nowhere near as clinical as we wanted", according to Dave Rennie.

"We didn't have anywhere near the amount of territory and so not enough pressure for long enough," Rennie told BBC Scotland.

"But we got a win so we are still in the race.

"We got to 18-0 and we needed to still be plugging the corners, playing at the right end of the field and putting a bit of pressure on them.

"But we tried to play from deep, made a couple of errors, gave away a couple of penalties, and they camped down in our half.

"There is a bit to learn from that - you need to keep your foot on the throat.

"It was always going to be difficult on a day like today, and clearly it was tough for both sides to play. There were a lot of errors and a lot of scrums as a result.

"We got off to a good start which gives you a glimmer of hope of a bonus point. But we were nowhere near as clinical as we wanted to be.

"Lyon certainly didn't lie down. We really needed to put them out the way in that last quarter-of-an-hour of the first half. But they hung in there and made life difficult for us."

Glasgow, with 14 points, remain in one of the three best runners-up spots across the five pools ahead of their final two fixtures - at home to Cardiff Blues on 13 January, and away at pool leaders Saracens on 19 January.

"We have got to win our next one against Cardiff, and if we do that, we will be on 18 points," Rennie noted. "If we get a bonus point, that will be great. Hopefully we put ourselves in with a chance heading into the Saracens game."

Glasgow will now switch their focus to a forthcoming Pro14 double-header with Edinburgh for the 1872 Cup over the next two Saturdays, starting at Murrayfield on 22 December.

They look likely to be without both their frontline hookers, with George Turner taken off on a stretcher at the end of the first half after suffering an ankle injury and concussion.

First-choice Fraser Brown will be sidelined until early February after damaging knee ligaments in the first game against Lyon last weekend, leaving the inexperienced Grant Stewart and Kevin Bryce as their remaining options.

"Obviously the boys enjoy it (the derby with Edinburgh), being back at Murrayfield, where a lot of them have played a fair bit of footie," Rennie added.

"It is a good way to bring in Christmas, and we know a fair bit about the enemy."

Referee Ben Whitehouse (Wales)
Attendance 7,351
Man of the Match Nikola Matawalu
Team
1
Oli Kebble
2
George Turner
3
Siua Halanukonuka
4
Tim Swinson
5
Jonny Gray
6
Ryan Wilson
7
Callum Gibbins
8
Matt Fagerson
9
Ali Price
10
Adam Hastings
11
Nikola Matawalu
12
Stafford McDowall
13
Huw Jones
14
Tommy Seymour
15
Stuart Hogg
Sub
Grant Stewart
Sub
Jamie Bhatti
Sub
Petrus du Plessis
Sub
Robert Harley
Sub
Chris Fusaro
Sub
Nick Frisby
Sub
Peter Horne
Sub
Robbie Nairn
Scorers
Nikola Matawalu Try 
Adam Hastings Penalty
Adam Hastings Penalty
Nikola Matawalu Try 
Adam Hastings Conversion
Adam Hastings Penalty