 | CELTIC LEAGUE Connacht (14) 31 Tries: Lacey, Warwick, Mostyn, Muldoon Cons: Warwick 3, Elwood Pens: Warwick Glasgow (8) 15 Tries: Logan, Parks Cons: Parks Pens: Parks
Att: 2,137 |
Former Australian sevens captain Paul Warwick bagged 14 points in Connacht's opening day win over Glasgow. Flankers Matt Lacey and John Muldoon, Warwick, and ex-Ireland international Matt Mostyn all crossed the line against the misfiring Scots.
And Warwick's fine form with the boot made sure of a first Celtic League win since April for the home team.
Dan Parks and Kenny Logan were Glasgow's try-scorers, as they touched down either side of half-time.
In near perfect conditions, Connacht pressed home an early advantage, touching down after six minutes through former England Under-21 Lacey.
A well-worked lineout, 12 metres from the Glasgow line, saw burly number eight John O'Sullivan take and claim for Lacey to rumble over.
Warwick, poached from Manly in July, clipped over the convert.
The visitors, who included late signings Scott Barrow and Rory Lamont out wide, replied 10 minutes later as a Lacey ruck infringement saw out-half Parks dink over a long-range penalty.
Possession swung Glasgow's way, but sterling defence from last season's Parker Pen semi-finalists saw them snuffled out.
The ever-ready Warwick slipped clean through the Scots' midfield on 36 minutes to claim a try to the right of the posts.
Despite a late lapse in allowing former Scottish wing Logan in for a score at the left corner flag, Connacht maintained a 14-8 lead at the break.
And the home side stung Glasgow straight after the restart.
Five minutes in and a pop pass from Warwick saw another new man James Downey send Mostyn under the posts.
Parks gave the visitors, second-from-bottom in last year's competition, added hope with a close range try.
But Connacht quickly snapped back with Warwick adding a penalty to his tally and his replacement Eric Elwood converting Muldoon's late barge over.
Glasgow are still without a win on Irish soil since a victory at this same venue in December 2001.
Connacht: David Slemen, Ted Robinson, Matt Mostyn, James Downey, Conor McPhillips, Paul Warwick, Tom Tierney, Adrian Clarke, John Fogarty, Peter Bracken, Christian Short, Andrew Farley, John Muldoon, Matt Lacey, John O'Sullivan.
Replacements: Henry Bourke, Stephen Knoop, Michael Carroll, Paul Neville, Conor O'Loughlin, Eric Elwood, Niall O'Brien
Glasgow: Rory Kerr, Sean Lamont, Andrew Henderson, Scott Barrow, Kenny Logan, Dan Parks, Sam Pinder, Kevin Tkachuk, Gordon Bulloch, Lee Harrison, Joe Beardshaw, Andrew Hall, Paul Dearlove, Jon Petrie (captain), Donnie Macfadyen.
Replacements: Scott Lawson, Andrew Kelly, Dan Turner, Andrew Wilson, Graeme Beveridge, Calvin Howarth, Graeme Morrison.