[tag=image]http://www.shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch ... rriors.jpg[/tag][tag=content]As far as confidence boosters go, Ulster will be thrilled with this result ahead of next week’s trip to Leicester as they put away Pro12 leaders the Glasgow Warriors comfortably, winning 29-9 at the Kingspan Stadium.
Ian Humphreys and Finn Russell traded penalties in the first half, but in the second half tries from wingers Craig Gilroy and Tommy Bowe made the game secure for the hosts.
The Warriors, who made twelve changes to last week’s team, were surprisingly off colour, and a first half yellow card to Leone Nakarawa didn’t help matters either as they slipped to their first defeat of the season.
The win moves Ulster to within a point of the Warriors who remain top, albeit temporarily, however head coach Neil Doak will be delighted with how his side controlled the game, even if they did require a little bit of luck to end up winning by twenty points.
The raucous home support were quickly silenced by the visitors who began the game with a spring in their step and took an early lead in the seventh minute through a Finn Russell penalty.
His opposite number was in equally good form. Ian Humphreys, making his first start since round two, slotted two penalties in quick succession to hand the hosts the lead.
Midway through the first period came a controversial moment as Louis Ludik, jumping for a chip kick through, was taken out in the air by former Ulsterman Tommy Seymour.
Upon consulting with his TMO, Nigel Owens decided there was nothing in it, much to the displeasure of the home crowd, and Russell levelled the scores with another shot at goal.
Humphreys was on hand however to extend Ulster’s advantage, capitalising on the hosts’ work in the pack and landing two more penalties to take the score to 12-6.
Glasgow were then reduced to fourteen men as Nakarawa was adjudged to have prevented a good try scoring opportunity by intercepting a pass from an offside position.
Although Humphreys missed the ensuing penalty, he was on hand to put Ulster nine points to the good with another effort just before the break.
Russell was on target with a penalty of his own three minutes after the restart, his mishit kick just creeping over the crossbar to reduce the scoreline to 15-9.
Despite the visitors being the first to score in the second half, Ulster were brimming with confidence and when they were awarded a penalty in the Glasgow 22, Humphreys kicked crossfield for Bowe, only for the Ireland winger to knock it on with the line begging.
Glasgow were looking strong in attack with the returning Sean Maitland finding the gaps in the Ulster back line, however on the most part the Ulster defence was holding firm and denying the Scots even a kick at goal.
And when the hosts attacked they showed lethal quality, with only the TMO denying Jared Payne an unlikely score in the corner, correctly ruling that the ball had indeed crossed the dead ball line.
Glasgow centre Mark Bennett then went down with a nasty looking injury midway through the half and was taken off on a stretcher, causing a lengthy delay to the game.
After the restart, the Glasgow defence was resolute in keeping out the home side’s best efforts and Humphreys was reduced to attempting a drop goal which sailed wide of the uprights.
However, five minutes later the home side had their reward for some relentless pressing with a superbly taken try from substitute Craig Gilroy.
The forwards set up a dominant driving maul and from there Humphreys switched the ball to Gilroy who did brilliantly to beat three defenders and outpace Niko Matawalu to score in the corner.
And two minutes later some slack work from Glasgow gave Tommy Bowe a gift of a try under the posts to make it 29-9.
There looked to be an overlap for the Warriors on the right hand side, but as the ball went wide it hit the deck and Bowe was on hand to scoop it up and coast in for Ulster’s second of the night, sealing a deserved victory.
The scorers
For Ulster
Tries: Gilroy, Bowe
Cons: Humphreys (2)
Pens: Humphreys (5)
For Glasgow
Pens: Russell (3)
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Louis Ludik (Stuart Olding 70), Andrew Trimble (Craig Gilroy 33), Jared Payne, Stuart McCloskey, Tommy Bowe, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall; (1-8) Andrew Warwick (Callum Black 58), Rory Best (Rob Herring 73), Wiehahn Herbst (Bronson Ross 20b, 73), Alan O’Connor, Franco van der Merwe (Lewis Stevenson 70), Robbie Diack, Chris Henry, Nick Williams (Roger Wilson 52).
Sub not used: Michael Heaney.
GLASGOW WARRIORS
(15-9) Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour, Mark Bennett (Niko Matawalu 60), Peter Horne (James Downey 55), Sean Lamont (DTH van der Merwe 47), Finn Russell, Henry Pyrgos; (1-8) Gordon Reid (Jerry Yanuyanutawa 65), Fraser Brown (Dougie Hall 52), Euan Murray (Zander Fagerson 75), Tim Swinson (Jonny Gray 49), Leone Nakarawa, Rob Harley, Chris Fusaro, Josh Strauss.
Sub not used: Adam Ashe.
Sin bin: Leone Nakarawa (33)
Man of the Match: Rory Best (Ulster)
Attendance: 16,260
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)[/tag]
Match Report: Ulster Rugby 29-9 Glasgow Warriors
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