Guinness PRO12: Leaders Glasgow Warriors defeat Connacht

Stuart Hogg: Scored two tries in Glasgow's victory

Glasgow maintained their perfect start to the Guinness PRO12 season by recording a 39-21 victory over Connacht at Scotstoun.

Stuart Hogg scored two tries while Henry Pyrgos, DTH van der Merwe and Mark Bennett also crossed the whitewash as the Warriors registered a comfortable victory against the Irish side.

Connacht responded through Dave McSharry, Darragh Leader and a penalty try, but were unable to keep their own unbeaten record intact.

Connacht surprisingly won their first three games in fine style but their hot streak came to end, with Glasgow dominant from the early stages.

Glasgow lock Tim Swinson had the home support out of their seats after 15 minutes when he burst through, only to be hauled down five metres short of the try-line. The ball was quickly recycled and it looked as if Bennett was over, but referee Claudio Blessano said he was held up.

A series of scrums had Glasgow battering at the door before Pyrgos passed from the base for Hogg to dart over and open the scoring with a 19th-minute try that Duncan Weir converted.

Connacht soon pulled the scores level against the run of play as they easily cut through Glasgow's defence. Jack Carty sent a grubber kick through and McSharry was sharply on the ball to go over. Ian Porter converted.

Advanatage

A Weir penalty after 30 minutes put Glasgow ahead, and shortly before half-time they increased their advantage to 17-7.

Connacht full-back Leader fluffed a clearance which Pyrgos charged down with relish. The scrum-half then gathered a difficult ball before going over for the try which Weir easily converted.

Starting the second half with a determined show of ball control, Glasgow went through the phases with great patience, eventually being rewarded when Hogg broke onto a pass and scored his second.

It was then Connacht's turn to go through their phases in what was to be their best period of the match. When the ball came wide it was Leader who went over wide on the right to narrow the gap just before the hour.

From the kick-off Glasgow attacked again, winning a scrum on the Connacht 22. Adam Ashe picked up at the base, handing on the ball to Pyrgos who deftly crafted a short pass to Van der Merwe on the reverse angle. The Canadian was through at pace, running over for the bonus-point try.

With Weir converting and adding another penalty a few minutes later the game seemed over. But Connacht powered into Glasgow's 22 and after a series of scrums, Glasgow conceded a penalty try.

Connacht were throwing everything at Glasgow and were putting on more pressure when, with five minutes to play, Bennett intercepted a pass and dashed 70 metres for a score which ended any doubt over the outcome.