RaboDirect PRO12: Glasgow strengthen top-four hopes after beating Connacht
Glasgow edged out a resilient Connacht 8-6 in blustery conditions to maintain their bid for a top-four finish.
Last Updated: 09/02/14 4:20pm
With the wind behind them, Connacht led 6-5 at half-time thanks to two penalties from Craig Ronaldson while Glasgow's man-of-the-match scrum-half Henry Pyrgos had set up Glasgow's try from centre Mark Bennett.
Glasgow's winning penalty was kicked by Ruaridh Jackson three minutes into the second half and thereafter they were thwarted by Connacht's determined defence.
Connacht centre Ronaldson missed a penalty chance from four metres in his own half in the third minute but in the eighth he struck a much easier one home to open a 3-0 lead.
In the 19th minute Glasgow took the lead with a superb score engineered by Pyrgos, who had already been showing a nose for a gap.
Breaking into open country from a ruck just over halfway and after a long run struck the correct kick to his right for centre Bennett, who gathered the slippery ball and went over for an unconverted try.
Confined
However, with play continuing to be confined to the Glasgow half by the elements, Connacht turned ahead thanks to a last-minute penalty from in front of the posts by Ronaldson after referee Leighton Hodges punished Glasgow tighthead prop Ed Kalman.
This followed a couple of missed efforts by Ronaldson in the 24th and 29th minutes and Glasgow having resisted a long period of pressure under their bar, sparked by good work from Connacht's George Naoupu and John Muldoon after Glasgow spilled possession.
It took less than two minutes of the second half for Glasgow to retake the lead. A 20-metre break by lock Leone Nakarawa produced a simple penalty for Jackson to kick.
Soon after, with the pattern of the first half replicated only Glasgow now had the wind advantage, Jackson failed with a long drop-goal effort.
Glasgow replaced their complete front row 10 minutes into the second period but penalty offences in the tight scrum continued to dog their efforts.
As the third quarter finished Connacht brought on old Glasgow favourite Dan Parks to a rousing reception. With 10 minutes to go Jackson failed with a long penalty kick and three minutes later with a much closer effort.
