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March 12, 2021

Glasgow Warriors 30 - 25 Ospreys

GUINNESS PRO14 match played at Scotstoun on Friday March 12th 2021 | No comments

Rufus McLean went over for Glasgow's second try
Glasgow Warriors edged out Ospreys in an entertaining PRO14 encounter at Scotstoun this evening.

Warriors trailed 15-9 at the interval, but a great second-half comeback gave the host's victory and kept their Champions Cup qualification hopes alive.

Glasgow now sit seven points behind the Ospreys in Conference A, with matches against Dragons and Benetton. The Ospreys have a match less to play, with only Leinster left for them.

Ospreys had much the better of the opening period with Morgan Morris forcing his way over after some patient phases from the visitors.

The Welsh side went further ahead with a penalty try after a kick from Luke Price found Dewi Cross out wide. The winger looked to feed Dan Evans but the pass was blocked by Glasgow full-back Ollie Smith.

Referee Sam Grove-White deemed that a deliberate knock-on had denied a probable try so awarded a penalty try for the Ospreys and a yellow card for Smith.

Three penalties from the boot of Ross Thompson kept them Warriors in touch at the break.

The second-half started with a flurry of scores as Glasgow took the lead for the first time after Lee Jones went the length of the field after Dan Evans had fumbled forward having broken through the Glasgow defence.

Ospreys responded quickly with Gareth Evans forcing his way over from close range.

But Warriors hit back just as quickly - with a beautiful kick through from Thompson allowing Rufus McLean to touch down and to retake the lead for the hosts.

Warriors went further ahead when Aki Seiuli forced his way over from a maul just after the hour mark to stretch the lead beyond a score.

TJ Ioane saw yellow for coming in at the side of a ruck ensuring Warriors would have to see out the game with 14 players. The resulting penalty from Price put Ospreys in bonus-point range but they unable to make their numerical advantage tell and Warriors were able to hang on for a vital win.

"We were under the pump for the first 20 minutes," admitted Glasgow's Defence Coach Kenny Murray.

"We didn't show the physicality that we needed, and we gave the Ospreys a 12-0 start. I thought we showed really good resilience to get ourselves back into the match, especially during the first yellow card period.

"We were dominant in defensive sets, and if it wasn't for a couple of silly defensive errors we could have been going into the half-time break ahead.

"It gives us confidence going into the trip to the Dragons next weekend, which we know we need to win in order to keep our chances of finishing third in the conference alive."

Attack Coach Jonny Bell also praised his team's focus in chasing the victory, after watching the Warriors run in scores courtesy of Lee Jones, Rufus McLean and Aki Seiuli.

"Our contact area wasn't great to begin with, we lost the ball too many times going into contact for my liking," said Bell.

"We composed ourselves well though, and I thought our set-piece was excellent. It was important that we controlled the game well in conditions like those, and Ross [Thompson] stepped up and ran the show with real maturity.

"Sean [Kennedy] and Jamie [Dobie] dovetailed well in the second half too, and that gave us the control we needed to be the team on top in that second half."

The goal is now as clear as can be for the Warriors as they pursue third place in Conference A; if the Ospreys fail to record any points from next weekend's clash with Leinster, victories over the Dragons and Benetton will see Glasgow leapfrog their Welsh counterparts into the top three.

"No two ways about it - the next two games are must-wins for us now," confirmed Bell.

"We know we'll need a favour along the way, but all we can control is making sure we get the two wins from those two matches."

Referee Sam Grove-White (Scotland)o
Attendance 0
Man of the Match Ross Thompson
Team
1
Aki Seiuli
2
Grant Stewart
3
Enrique Pieretto
4
James Scott
5
Leone Nakarawa
6
Robert Harley
7
Tom Gordon
8
Ryan Wilson
9
Sean Kennedy
10
Ross Thompson
11
Lee Jones
12
Robbie Fergusson
13
Nick Grigg
14
Rufus McLean
15
Ollie Smith
Sub
Johnny Matthews
Sub
Dylan Evans
Sub
D'arcy Rae
Sub
Kiran McDonald
Sub
TJ Ioane
Sub
Jamie Dobie
Sub
Ian Keatley
Sub
Ratu Tagive
Match Substitutions
Off On
Grant Stewart Johnny Matthews
Off On
Sean Kennedy Jamie Dobie
Off On
Ollie Smith Ian Keatley
Off On
James Scott Kiran McDonald
Off On
Aki Seiuli Dylan Evans
Off On
Tom Gordon TJ Ioane
Scorers
Ross Thompson Penalty
Ross Thompson Penalty
Ross Thompson Penalty
Lee Jones Try 
Ross Thompson Conversion
Rufus McLean Try 
Ross Thompson Conversion
Aki Seiuli Try 
Ross Thompson Conversion