Glasgow Warriors 34-20 Scarlets

Thom Evans was the star at Firhill for Glasgow Warrirors
Glasgow 34 (13)
Tries: Evans (2), Barclay, Hall, Gregor
Cons: Parks (3)
Pen: Parks


Scarlets 20 (12)
Tries: Stephen Jones, Mark Jones (2)
Con: Stephen Jones
Pen: Stephen Jones

Glasgow Warriors recovered from a poor start to get their season back on track with a home win over Scarlets.

The Scarlets, hammered at Edinburgh last week, took the lead with a Stephen Jones try and went 10 points up when Mark Jones scored the first of his two.

But the first of two superb Thom Evans tries and a John Barclay touchdown put the hosts 13-12 in front at the break.

A superb Dougie Hall try and Evans's second brought a bonus point, Colin Gregor crossing for a fifth late on.

The Scarlets started brightly, patiently amassing a series of phases before Stephen Jones ducked inside Moray Low to reach the line.

Glasgow battled their way back into the match only to squander a great opportunity to level matters when a Lome Fa'atau dash let Evans set up full-back Bernie Stortoni 30m out, but indecision allowed the Scarlets to backtrack and nullify the danger.

There was a further blow for the Warriors midway through the half as the visitors grabbed their second touchdown of the night.

Fa'tau was dispossessed inside his own half, presenting Mark Jones with a cruise to the line, which Stephen Jones converted for a 12-0 lead.

Dan Parks eased some of the jitters by slotting a simple penalty and Glasgow moved into top gear.

The ball was flashed through at least six pairs of hands before skipper Ally Kellock sent Evans skidding over.

Glasgow could have broken through again on the half hour but Fa'atau lost possession.

Warriors stepped up the pace in the build-up to the interval, with Johnnie Beattie and Opeta Palepoi going close.

But Barclay grabbed a well-deserved try from close quarters to put the home side in front.

The best was yet to come as Glasgow created a wonderful score for hooker Hall.

Fa'atau made up for his earlier slips by leaving the Scarlets defence for dead with a pin-point chip-and-chase before sending Hall clear with a perfectly-delivered pass and Parks converted to provide another injection of confidence.

Glasgow made sure of the bonus point with another terrific try by Evans after a break by his brother Max.

Scarlets refused to buckle and Mark Jones notched his second to give them some hope.

Stephen Jones added a late penalty to give the visitors hope of a losing bonus point, but substitute Gregor had the last word with a fifth try for Glasgow, converted by Parks.

This article was posted on 26-Sep-2008, 22:07 by Hugh Barrow.