RaboDirect PRO12: Glasgow score six tries in big win over Munster
Glasgow moved top of the RaboDirect PRO12 table after emphatically beating Munster 51-24 at Scotstoun Stadium.
Last Updated: 30/03/13 11:20am
It was an impressive performance from the Warriors, who scored six tries in total to leapfrog Leinster in the race for top spot in emphatic style.
It took Gregor Townsend's side just 26 seconds to get on the scoreboard after Sean Maitland, one of nine changes to the team that lost to Leinster the previous weekend, intercepted a floated pass from Casey Laulala. Jackson added the extras.
Paul O'Connell - two games into his comeback from a back operation - was prominent as Munster responded with vigour and Laulala eventually atoned for his earlier misdemeanor with a try under the posts that was improved by Ronan O'Gara.
Prop Dave Kilcoyne crashed over from close range to give Munster the lead as the visitors continued to dominate though the forwards. O'Gara was again on target with the conversion attempt.
But Glasgow hit back with their second interception try of the evening, livewire scrum-half Nikola Matawalu collecting a stray pass from his opposite number, Duncan Edwards, for a try that Jackson improved to make the score 14-14.
Glasgow finished the half strongly and they were rewarded with two Jackson penalties to take a six-point lead into the interval.
O'Gara scored the first points of the second half when he punished Glasgow for failing to roll away at the tackle, his 47th-minute penalty reducing the arrears to 20-17.
Thereafter it was all Glasgow with four tries in a devastating 23-minute spell delighting the home crowd. Man-of-the-match Jackson finished off a nice interchange between backs and forwards with a try he converted himself and then added a penalty to put Glasgow 30-17 up.
The Scots went further in front through Mark Bennett not long after DTH Van der Merwe had been hauled down inches short of the Munster line. Jackson converted.
Stuart Hogg crossed for a fifth try, before former All Black Doug Howlett temporarily halted Glasgow's momentum with a well-taken score in the right hand corner that Ian Keatley converted.
Glasgow, though, had the final word in the dying stages through John Barclay who capped a fine personal display with the final try of the night. Duncan Weir's conversion saw Glasgow chalk up a half-century of points.
