Glasgow Warriors withstood a spirited challenge from the Scarlets before securing a hard fought victory at Firhill Arena in a Magners League encounter. The win took Glasgow up to second place in the points table with fellow Scottish side Edinburgh the early pace-setters.
Dan Parks missed two early penalties as did opposite number Rhys Priestland. It wasn’t until the 28th minute that the scoreboard attendant had something to do.
The home side finally put a few phases together before Parks sent out a huge pass which put Rob Dewey on the outside of Mark Jones and the big winger surged over. Parks converted to give Glasgow a 7-0 lead.
But the Scarlets hit back after full back Daniel Evans hit the line at pace. Jonathan Davies popped the ball and Evans chimed in to leave Thom Evans for dead to race to the try line from halfway without a hand being laid on him.
The Scarlets entered halftime ahead courtesy of Priestland’s boot who landed a penalty with the last kick of the half.
Determined to record their second win on the trot, the Scarlets blew a golden chance to score in the 48th minute when Priestland’s pass to unmarked prop Ieatyn Thomas, who was lurking out wide on the wing, dropped the ball with the line at his mercy but he would probably argue Dewey got a vital fingertip to the Scarlets fly half’s pass to deceive him.
The home side regained the lead in the 51st minute after David Lyons lost the ball close to his own line from a retreating scrum. The Scottish side worked the ball to inside centre Graeme Morrison who powered his way towards the line. The Scarlets pack was then penalised and Parks banged over the penalty.
The Scarlets then worked their way downfield and inched ahead in the 54th minute when Priestland sent his penalty kick between the uprights after Glasgow were pinged by the referee for coming in from the side at a ruck.
The Scarlets continued to take the game to the home side. Deacon Manu was unlucky to lose the ball over the try-line after another surge to the Scots’ try-line.
Parks popped over a drop goal as Glasgow as the home side searched for their second try.
Player-coach Simon Easterby was sin-binned in the 68th minute for a rash challenge and Parks made the Scarlets pay further by landing the resulting penalty from halfway to give Glasgow a 16-11 lead.
Parks put the game beyond the Scarlets after Evans was penalised for failing to release the ball after trying a breakout from his own line. This meant that despite being in with a chance of actually winning the game throughout, Nigel Davies’s men returned to Wales without even a losing bonus point.
