Glasgow Warriors marked their first game at Firhill since May 2006 with their first win of the new Magners League campaign as Connacht came a cropper in Friday’s tight encounter. Following defeats at the hands of Cardiff and the Ospreys, Glasgow came good with fly-half Colin Gregor’s 80th-minute penalty strike helping them come from behind against a dogged Connacht outfit. Connacht trailed 10-6 at half-time but two successful penalties and a drop goal from Australian recruit Tim Donnelly had the Irish province in line for only their second league win since early March. However, Gregor had other ideas and Glasgow opened their win account for the season ahead of next Friday’s visit of Leinster. Despite the win, Glasgow coach Sean Lineen will be far from happy with how unconvincing his side were. The error count was high as the hosts allowed Connacht to boss the early exchanges. An offside decision allowed Donnelly kicked the visitors into a third-minute lead. Gregor replied eight minutes later and Connacht were down to 14 men when number eight Colm Rigney saw yellow for an off-the-ball tackle. Some incisive running from the Glasgow backs helped the hosts make use of their one-man advantage – New Zealander Daryl Gibson darted through a gap to make good headway and he was involved again, linking with Bernardo Stortoni, to send Max Evans haring into the Connacht 22. The surging attack had try written all over it but a great tackle from Connacht centre Mel Deane prevented Sam Pinder from grabbing a try for Glasgow. Off the following phase though, the Scots did manage to cross the whitewash as Stortoni took the ball on before number eight John Beattie crashed over the line. Gregor made it a seven-pointer and as Connacht came under further pressure, Glasgow were unfortunate not to nab a second try as the on-form Stortoni just marginally failed to find Pinder with what would have been a try-scoring pass. Lineen’s men continued to force the issue – Argentinian star Stortoni almost created a try for himself coming up to the break. He was kept out by some resolute Connacht defence and Michael Bradley’s men picked off a late three points as Donnelly fired over a drop goal. Gregor kicked Glasgow 13-6 clear just after the restart, only for Donnelly to respond and Connacht, to their credit, kept themselves in the hunt with some clever play and hard hits. One moment summed up the visitors’ determination to win – a superb try-saving tackle from winger Ofisa Treviranus denied Gregor and rallied his team-mates. Donnelly cut the gap to a single point when he floated over a terrrific drop goal from all of 45 metres out, and that score set up a nervous finish for Glasgow. Donnelly continued his fine kicking display as he whalloped a monster penalty through the uprights in the 70th-minute, but Gregor had the final say for the hosts – he snatched the victory for his side with only his fourth successful kick from eight attempts on the night – and Glasgow held on throughout the ten minutes of stoppage time.
