A vintage kicking performance from Rory Clegg on his return to Glasgow Warriors saw them edge out Leinster 12-6 in a tryless GUINNESS PRO12 affair at Scotstoun.

The first half belonged to the defences with the sides level following a pair of Isa Nacewa and Rory Clegg penalties apiece, before the latter struck another two early in the second period.

Leinster have set the standard defensively in the GUINNESS PRO12 this season, but it was the Warriors’ defence who came up trumps this time, as they weathered a late storm from the visitors to hold out and move into the top six.

Despite Glasgow kicking off and immediately recovering possession, Leinster grabbed the opening points of the game with just three minutes played – Nacewa making no mistake after the visitors broke a couple of tackles in the midfield.

But the Warriors were soon level through the returning Clegg, who nailed his first penalty attempt back at Scotstoun through the posts on 14 minutes.

Glenn Bryce’s superb defence on his own 22 then earned his side a penalty, and from the resulting line-out Glasgow were able to work the ball into Leinster’s half and set up another shot at goal for Clegg.

The German-born fly-half again smacked his long-range effort through the posts to make it 6-3.

Mark Bennett’s break then almost saw Glasgow into the Leinster 22, but after the Irish province were able to get back and clear, Garry Ringrose’s chip through put the hosts under pressure.

And after Zane Kirchner came close to connecting with a Ben Te’o grubber, Leinster won a penalty for Nacewa to stroke through from out wide on 31 minutes.

The men in blue could not take advantage of a Dan Leavy offload five minutes later in midfield as the ball was knocked on, and there was still time for Nacewa to pull another penalty wide before the interval as the sides went in level.

Glasgow however flew forward at the start of the second period, and after they had progressed inside the five-metre line they were denied by a Leavy turnover and Leinster could clear.

The hosts went through the phases once more and after Te’o was pinged on the floor, Clegg hit his third penalty of the night from left of the posts to edge his side ahead.

Te’o made up for his indiscretion with a brilliant tackle to force Lee Jones out of play on 55 minutes, as he bore down on the try-line after bursting onto Clegg’s pass and scything through a couple of Leinster tackles.

But following a line-out the visitors were penalised yet again, and Clegg took the gap out to six points for the first time in the game with his fourth kick from four heading into the final 20 minutes.

Leinster dominated possession in the closing stages but could find no way through a determined Glasgow defence, and a huge set from the hosts saw them turn over the boys in blue deep in their own territory with five minutes remaining.

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