THE HERALD REPORTS

Glasgow Warriors 22 Leinster 19: Jackson and Weir ensure boot of Parks is not missed


Kevin Ferrie

4 Sep 2010
DAN who?

The post-Parks era began at Firhill last night and both the men aiming to be the Magners League record points scorer’s successor made their mark as Glasgow Warriors claimed a remarkable comeback win against the leading Irish province.

While his team at times looked as if they were doing everything in their power to give this game away, Sean Lineen, Glasgow’s head coach, afterwards reckoned the match had gone perfectly to plan, at least as far as his two young playmakers, Ruaridh Jackson and Duncan Weir, were concerned.

“We wanted to start Ruaridh to keep the tempo high then bring Duncan on when we needed him as the pressure grew and we had to control the game because we knew that if we did the right things they would give away penalties,” Lineen said. “I have total confidence in both of them. They’re both going to be stars.”

Lineen did not stop there, dishing out lavish praise to his entire youthful team but also identifying Henry Pyrgos, whose bravery, willingness to break and judgment of when to pass were all largely excellent, and Callum Forrester for particular plaudits.

“They’ve all had to grow up pretty quickly, but I’ve said it several times and I meant it. This is the best I’ve enjoyed a pre-season at this club,” Lineen went on.

“They were a bit taken aback by the two tries they gave away from our set-piece in the first half, but I liked the way they tore into them in the second, realising this was their home as the crowd got into it, making a tremendous noise, and the belief just grew as the game went on.”

After Jackson and Fergus McFadden had exchanged two early penalties apiece, Glasgow looked to have lost their way when conceding those two silly tries from their own lineout put-ins. One might almost have suspected the involvement of an Indian bookmaker, so easily did Jamie Heaslip claim the ball from a throw in by Fergus Thomson, the opposing hooker, to send Dominic Ryan clear for Leinster first.

The second, however, could have been prevented even after the lineout was lost, again near halfway. Max Evans was first to Isaac Boss’s speculative chip, but inexplicably opted for a half-hearted volley rather than going to ground. When Federico Aramburu then did the same the ball fell into Boss’s path and the TV replay official quite rightly confirmed as much.

Leinster came out for the second half determined to hold onto their 10-point lead at all costs, happy to concede penalties to prevent Glasgow getting any sort of rhythm, but the referee’s patience finally snapped when John Fogarty appeared to throw a punch within a minute of taking the field as a replacement.

As he sat in the sin-bin, Jackson missed two of three penalty chances and Leinster still held a seven-point lead as they were restored to full strength.

Weir then emerged, however, to show the deftness of both hand and foot that had Glasgow Hawks supporters raving about him last season, so earning the teenager this early tilt at the big time.

Minutes after replacing Jackson he launched the lengthy passage of play which brought the match-turning try as he shifted the ball left following a lineout. At last Glasgow’s alertness and urgency matched their industry as they probed left before reversing play to the right where Pat McArthur drove into a hole to suck defenders towards him.

The ball was then released to the right again where Weir’s pass gave DTH van der Merwe enough space to get into the right corner.

Weir converted well and when, soon afterwards, the Glasgow forwards set up a drop goal opportunity just outside the 22, never looked like missing as he put his team ahead for the first time. Within a minute it was level again thanks to Isa Nacewa’s fine penalty strike from the left touchline.

When, in his own 22, Nathan Hines took a man out of a lineout illegally with time running out, the composure Lineen referred to, was again in evidence as Weir calmly knocked over the winning kick. Leinster had one last chance to save the game, but Glasgow’s desire was demonstrated as the two Richies, Gray and Vernon, frantically raced out to apply enough pressure to force the Fijian internationalist to slice it wide.

This article was posted on 4-Sep-2010, 06:38 by Hugh Barrow.