GLASGOW WARRIORS 12 - 23 MUNSTER
Friday, 09 September 2011
In their first home match of the 2011/12 season Glasgow Warriors were left trailing 12 points to 23 as the current champions, Munster tallied up a comfortable lead.
Glasgow showed some promising attack play throughout the match with Troy Nathan, Colin Shaw and Chris Fusaro, all making threatening breaks at various stages. However some soft defending let them down in the end.
 
Glasgow Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, said: “Munster deserved to win tonight. It was disappointing when they got the first try because it was crucial to the final score.
“They also killed the game in the second half which they are so good at - slowing down the momentum.
“We were too lateral at times and struggled to get our men to the breakdown on time. However, we have a lot of keen youngsters in this team who will learn a lot from tonight’s match.
“Take young Nick Campbell, up against an experience Mick O’Driscoll, he didn’t look out of place, plus Henry Pyrgos had a great game, Stuart Hogg was ever present at the back and Chris Fusaro constantly got stuck in.
“Unfortunately we struggled to get a handle on the game and gain the momentum to find a victory.”
The match opened with a series of penalties being exchanged between the two sides and by 20 minutes it was six apiece. However, despite Glasgow’s promising efforts Munster managed to cross the line for the opening try, minutes from half-time
HALF-TIME: GLASGOW WARRIORS 6 v 16 MUNSTER
In the second period Munster added a second score early on through wing Simon Zebo which gave them a comfortable lead. The Warriors then only managed another two penalties from the boot of stand-off, Duncan Weir.
FULLTIME: GLASGOW WARRIORS 12 v 23 MUNSTER
Read on for today’s run of play:
1min: Glasgow won a scrum off the kick-off in Munster's 22. They then created a quick attacking ball with stand-off Weir, grubbering the ball through to the corner for wing Aramburu, but it went to touch before he could touchdown.
8mins: Glasgow were penalised in the scrum gifting Munster stand-off, Ian Keatley, an easy opportunity to open the scoring. 0-3
10mins: Duncan Weir levelled up the scoreboard straight away with a direct shot at the posts. 3-3
13mins: Niall Ronan went to to the bin for killing the ball on his own line, allowing Weir to add another three points. 6-3
20mins: Chris Fusaro was yellow carded on 20 minutes leaving both teams with 14 men. Ian Keatley realigned the scoreboard with a second successful penalty. 6-6
26mins: Duncan Weir tried for a drop goal but only managed to dunk the post. However, a Munster knock-on set up the hosts for a skirmish from 15 metres.
30mins: Ian Keatley put a third penalty attempt wide leaving the scores at six a piece.
32mins: After some confusion when the ball popped out the rug and over the whitewash allowing Glasgow to touchdown, Dudley Philips disallowed the try and awarded a penalty. This time Duncan Weir was unsuccessful with the kick.
35mins: Ian Keatley fired a bullet from 55 metres giving the visitors the lead five minutes from half-time. 6-9
39mins: Glasgow weren't able to hold off a persistent attack from Munster as they battered away for seven or eight phases on the home line. In the end flanker Niall Ronan crossed for the first try of the match. Ian Keatley added the extras. 6-16
Half-time: Glasgow Warriors 6 v 16 Munster
44mins: Glasgow Warriors were left begging as Munster centre Mafi Lifeimi burst through the defence before offloading to wing Simon Zebo who added a further seven points for the visitors by the posts. Keatley converted. 6-23
46mins: Glasgow Warriors made their first replacements of the night bringing on Colin Gregor and James Eddie for Henry Pyrgos and Nick Campbell respectively. Moments later Duncan Weir added three points to the Warriors tally. 9-23
51mins: Duncan Weir boosted the Glasgow scoreboard adding a fourth successful penalty from fifty metres. Soon after captain, Rob Harley was being attended to by the medics having fallen awkwardly in a tackle. After a few moments treatment he was back on his feet and ready for action. 12-23
68mins: Munster received their second sin binning of the evening with lock, Billy Holland serving the ten.
Glasgow ended the match desperately seeking a score. While they gained a great deal of ground their efforts were in vain as they were knocked into touch five metres from the line.
Fulltime: Glasgow Warriors 12 v 23 Munster
RaboDirect Man of the Match: Ian Keatley
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg; 14 Federico Aramburu, 13 Rob Dewey, 12 Troy Nathan, 11 Colin Shaw; 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Henry Pyrgos; 1 Ryan Grant, 2 Pat MacArthur, 3 Mike Cusack, 4 Tom Ryder, 5 Nick Campbell, 6 Rob Harley (captain), 7 Chris Fusaro, 8 Ryan Wilson
Substitutes: 16 Finlay Gillies (for MacArthur, 71mins), 17 Ed Kalman (for Cusack, 52mins), 18 Gordon Reid (for Grant, 76mins), 19 James Eddie (for Campbell, 46mins), 20 Rory Pitman (for Wilson, 71mins), 21 Colin Gregor (for Pyrgos, 46mins), 22 Scott Wight (for Duncan Weir, 74mins), 23 Peter Horne (for Dewey, 56mins)
Munster: 15 Johne Murphy; 14 Doug Howlett, 13 Danny Barnes, 12 Lifeimi Mafi, 11 Simon Zebo; 10 Ian Keatley, 9 Peter Stringer; 1 Wian du Preez, 2 Damien Varley, 3 John Hayes; 4 Billy Holland, 5 Mick O'Driscoll; 6 Peter O'Mahony capt, 7 Niall Ronan, 8 James Coughlan.
Substitutes: 16 Denis Fogarty (for Varley, 67mins), 17 Marcus Horan (for Du Preez, 61mins), 18 Stephen Archer (for Hayes, 58mins), 19 Dave Foley (for O'Mahony, 72mins), 20 Tommy O'Donnell (for Ronan, 58mins), 21 Duncan Williams (for Stringer, 64mins), 22 Scott Deasy (for Keatley, 74mins), 23 Tom Gleeson (for Zebo, 72mins).
Ref: D Philips (IRFU)
Attendance: 2914
 

This article was posted on 9-Sep-2011, 21:40 by Hugh Barrow.