PRO12: Glasgow come from behind to secure important win over title rivals Munster
Last Updated: 21/12/14 5:54pm
Glasgow Warriors secured a vitally important 21-18 win over Irish side Munster in the PRO12 on Saturday.
The victory moved Glasgow above Munster and briefly saw them climb into first place in the table, but Ospreys' bonus-point victory over Ulster in the late game ensured they were top heading into the festive period.
Tries from JJ Hanrahan and Robin Copeland gave Munster a nine-point lead going into half-time, but the Irishmen were unable to score a single point in the second half, opening the door for a Gasgow win thanks to tries from second rowers Leone Nakarawa and Jonny Gray.
Munster enjoyed dominance at the breakdown and started the game strongly, opening their account with a try in the eighth minute.
Loosehead prop John Ryan made good yards down the touchline before the ball was recycled under the Glasgow posts. The ball made its way to Hanrahan who stepped through an attempted Glasgow tackle for the first score of the game.
Finn Russell struggled to find his rhythm when kicking, but he took his side to a 6-5 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Shortly afterwards Paul O'Connell was sent to the sin-bin for being the last of a series of team infringements at the breakdown.
Advantage
Glasgow were unable to make use of their man advantage, and after penalties were exchanged late into the first half the score stood at 11-9 to the Irishmen.
With seconds remaining in the half Munster were gifted a line-out 10 metres from the Glasgow line, from which they scored a try through No 8 Robin Copeland who crashed over the top of a ruck to give his team an 18-9 advantage going into the break.
Glasgow were first to score in the second half when they were given a kickable scrum penalty which they opted to kick to touch. The forwards formed a driving maul before sending it out wide where ranging lock Leone Nakarawa, who had been involved in many open-play possessions during the game, stretched to score a try.
Glasgow broke late in the game through DTH van der Merwe who was brought down with less than a metre to spare. The ball was once again recycled and Nakarawa‘s lock partner Gray cantered over for his own try to cap his man-of-the-match performance.
A missed conversion meant the score stood at 21-18 to Glasgow. Russell was given a kickable penalty to take the hosts to a six-point lead with minutes remaining, but missed the attempt.
However, Munster were unable to hit back, leaving the score unchanged when the referee blew the final whistle.
