Glasgow 29-15 Cardiff Blues: Warriors extend winning run
Last Updated: 07/01/17 9:53pm
Peter Murchie's double helped Glasgow rack up their fifth straight win as they beat Cardiff Blues 29-15 at Scotstoun.
Pat MacArthur's try put Warriors ahead early on but a mistake from Finn Russell allowed Blaine Scully to trim back the deficit.
The Blues were even briefly level thanks to Steven Shingler's penalty, but full-back Murchie's second-half brace and a fourth score from substitute hooker James Malcolm ensured Gregor Townsend's men claimed the bonus point which means they climb to fourth in the Guinness PRO12 table. The Blues - who grabbed a late consolation effort from Rhun Williams - stay in seventh.
The victory ensures Glasgow maintain vital momentum as they look ahead to this month's pivotal European Champions Cup Pool 1 double header against Munster and Leicester, which will determine whether they make the quarter-finals.
The Warriors were intent on squeezing their guests from the off but their patience was tested as Blues refused to budge.
But Danny Wilson's side could only withstand so much pressure and were eventually breached 13 minutes in as hooker MacArthur squeezed over from a yard out, with Russell converting.
The Glasgow pack were enjoying the battle with their opponents but the greasy ball did not help when the hosts tried to open up. A Russell penalty five minutes before the break was scant reward for the forwards' first-half efforts, though.
Yet Glasgow's lead was trimmed back to five on the stroke of half-time. Russell - this week linked with a big money moves to France and England - tried to boot Glasgow clear down the right but his kick took a nick of a flailing Cardiff Blues hand, diverting the ball straight to Scully, who darted over in the corner. Shingler converted before opening the second-half action with a penalty to level the scores.
But that was a momentary set-back for Warriors and they hit back in the 48th minute. Tommy Seymour's break cut the Blues open before he played in Alex Dunbar. Scully did well to haul down the Scotland centre before he could score but Murchie was quickly on the scene to provide a close-range finish. Russell converted.
And the visitors were undone once more by another Seymour run seven minutes later. Again the Welshmen got back into covering position to stop the initial burst but failed to organise themselves in time for the second phase as Murchie dived over again, although there was a hit of a forward pass from Mark Bennett's assist.
Russell put the conversion over but Glasgow did not relent, adding a fourth try when Malcolm heaved himself over after another drive from the forwards with quarter of an hour left. This time Russell missed the conversion.
Williams put a slightly better gloss on the scoreline for Cardiff when he dived over after Malcolm overcooked a lineout.
