THE SCOTSMAN REPORTS
DAVID FERGUSON AT FIRHILL

Glasgow 17
Cardiff 5
GLASGOW made the most of facing a weakened Cardiff side last night to topple the Magners League leaders on a bitterly cold night in Maryhill.

Cardiff had come into this clash off the backs of a draw with Harlequins and defeat of Bristol in the Heineken Cup, and five wins from six Magners League matches, but they were missing six players to today's Welsh international and another four to injury.

They started the game seemingly comfortable to soak up pressure and pick their moments in attack, but Glasgow's defence hardened up and their opportunities closed up.

With stiff criticism no doubt still ringing in their ears, after a slipshod display in victory over Viadana, Glasgow worked tirelessly to produce chances for Parks to kick Cardiff into submission.

The first half was an intriguing medley of good set-piece work, terrific endeavour and ambition, but precious little in the way of clinical attacking. Cardiff held the edge in defence and though Johnnie Beattie, the home No 8 later voted man-of-the-match, was a good visible presence, the most reliable yard-maker was still the boot of Dan Parks.

The Scotland stand-off also provided the game's first try when he intercepted a pass just inside the Glasgow half after eight minutes and raced downfield.

Not the quickest man in the game, Parks seemed tempted to use his support, which included the electric Thom Evans - who had already bemused the Cardiff defence with a startling run - but when he saw it was Cardiff hooker Gareth Williams giving chase he put his head down and went for the corner.

The embarrassment of being caught by a hooker clearly spurred him on, but the wide angle meant he failed to convert.

He was also the target for Cardiff runners, back row breaks and midfielders charging through his channel as the Welshman exposed weaknesses in the home attack which Glasgow's defence coach Gary Mercer had hoped had been solved.

Glasgow's best opportunities came from first-phase attacks and John Barclay, the openside flanker, sliced through the Cardiff defence only to kill the promise with a forward pass to Hefin O'Hare once at Cardiff's 22, while a crossfield kick from Parks was well held and retained by Alastair Kellock in the 19th minute.

Cardiff were given to some daft penalties, and shoddy handling, throughout the first period, and after two in succession inside their 22 Parks converted to put the hosts 8-0 ahead early in the second quarter.

The hosts' moments of defensive lapse was to rear appallingly just minutes later, however, when Rhys Williams, who seemed to have been well-shepherded to the right touchline, managed to break tackles from Bernardo Stortoni, Parks and Barclay to run 30 metres for an easy riposte.

Ben Blair couldn't convert and Parks responded with another penalty and, with handling errors costing Cardiff, Blair missing another shot at goal and the home defence tightening up, the scoreline remained at 11-5 to Glasgow until half-time.

Parks again dominated the scoreboard in the third quarter, making the most of a determined, more cohesive opening to the half - Barclay, Kelly Brown and Beattie working well and Moray Low back to form in the loose - to strike a penalty and drop-goal and ease the hosts into a 12-point lead. Blair struck a post, again, in attempting to pull back the deficit.

There was the same work-rate from Glasgow in the second period, but a bit more sharpness and improved support for the ball-carrier, which enabled the hosts to spend more time in the Cardiff half. Sam Pinder replaced the busy Chris O'Young at scrum-half and All Black Daryl Gibson, an intelligent presence in the Glasgow midfield, gave way to Scott Barrow, whose all-action style was underlined by a Rambo-type headband. Still Andy Henderson, Scotland's inside centre remained outside.

There was a lengthy stoppage when Rhys Williams, Cardiff's right winger, was left prone and in pain after a ruck, and he was eventually stretchered off with a lower left leg injury. The result was a penalty, but Parks this time fell short with his kick. The change, with Ryan Howells coming on to the left wing, seemed to energise Cardiff and they began to ask more searching questions of the home defence, pressing the home 22.

Glasgow dealt with them all fairly comfortably, however, and Pinder almost grabbed a last-gasp score for Glasgow, after a Parks interception and mad dash upfield, but the ball bounced from his grasp as he dived on it at the right-hand post.

Hopefully this win over the league leaders, and resultant rise into the league's top echelons might also persuade more than 1,638 souls to brave the Scottish winter and support the team.

Scorers: Glasgow: Try - Parks Pens Parks (3); Drop Goal Parks. Cardiff: Try - R Williams

Glasgow: B Stortoni; H O'Hare, A Henderson, D Gibson, T Evans; D Parks, C O'Young; J Va'a, F Thomson, M Low, A Newman, A Kellock, K Brown, J Beattie, J Barclay. Subs: S Pinder for O'Young 55mins, S Barrow for Gibson 64, O Palepoi for Newman 78.

Cardiff: B Blair; R Williams, T Selley, D Hewitt, G Thomas; D Flanagan, J Spice (D Allinson 78); J Yapp, G Williams, G Powell, B Davies, R Sidoli, S Morgan, M Lewis, M Williams. Subs: T Filise for Yapp 25mins, D Jones for Sidolo 42, R Howells for R Williams 71, D Allinson for Spice, M Molitika for Lewis, both 78, R Johnson for G Williams, B White for Morgan, both 79.

Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland). Attendance: 1,638.

This article was posted on 24-Nov-2007, 08:39 by Hugh Barrow.