[tag=image]http://www.shawlandsacademy.glasgow.sch ... rriors.jpg[/tag][tag=content]Ulster’s top four prospects were dealt a massive blow as they were beaten 27-9 at Scotstoun Stadium by fellow play-off chasers Glasgow Warriors.
Three first half penalties from Paddy Jackson were scant consolation for Ulster as they left Glasgow with nothing to show for their efforts, which were disappointingly sub-par.
Glasgow scored tries through backs Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour and Mark Bennett, but they could not get what would be a vital bonus point in their push for a home semi-final place.
The result brings Glasgow up to just a point behind Ulster with a game in hand on the Irish province and it means Ulster’s top four hopes hang by a thread.
Maitland made a strong break through the Ulster defensive line in the second minute to show Glasgow’s attacking intent early on and Finn Russell, starting the game at fly half, gave the Scots an early lead with a penalty.
Paddy Jackson, who had missed an early effort before Russell’s, drew the scores level in the nineteenth minute with a straightforward penalty in front of the posts following a run from Ricky Andrew.
The visitors were beginning to gain the upper hand in the game and two more Jackson penalties gave them a 9-3 lead after twenty-seven minutes.
Even more important was a yellow card awarded to Glasgow number eight Ryan Wilson following several offences at the breakdown.
Crucially though, Ulster could not make their man advantage pay and it was actually Glasgow who probably looked the more threatening in those ten minutes.
Jackson had a chance to improve Ulster’s lead to nine but saw his penalty hit the post.
And Glasgow made the Ulster fly-half pay for his misses as in the last play of the first half British & Irish Lion Sean Maitland cut through the Ulster defence to grab the game’s opening try to give the hosts a 10-9 half-time lead.
Glasgow were to grab complete control of the game just after the break as in four minutes they found themselves eleven points to the good.
Sean Doyle was sin-binned for Ulster for repeated offences and after Russell landed his second penalty of the night, former Ulsterman Tommy Seymour spun off a driving maul to give Glasgow a 20-9 lead.
Ulster seemed shell-shocked by the quick start made by the Warriors and they could not find a foothold to get back into the game, making too many errors to force their way back into contention.
Nick Williams thought he had a try in the sixtieth minute from an Ulster driving maul which would have brought the visitors right back into the game but the TMO ruled that the evidence was inconclusive.
By contrast, Glasgow got a considerable run-of-the-green call from TMO as Mark Bennett scythed his way through the Ulster defence and appeared to drop the ball over the line, only for Yuille to rule that the grounding was good, much to the surprise of everyone, none more so it seemed than the man-of-the-match himself.
At 27-9 and with three tries on the board the game became a question of whether Glasgow would get that all important fourth try.
Even with a man advantage following Tom Court’s injury forcing him, no matter how hard they tried, the Warriors could not find the fourth try and instead had to settle for just the four points.
As for Ulster, it is extremely worrying signs with games against Leinster and Munster still to come, and should they wish to be in the end of season play-offs then they will have to improve drastically.
The scorers
For Glasgow
Tries: Maitland, Seymour, Bennett
Pens: Russell (2)
Cons: Russell (3)
For Ulster
Pens: Jackson (3)
GLASGOW WARRIORS
(15-9) Peter Murchie, Sean Maitland (Richie Vernon 75), Matt Bennett, Peter Horne (Ruaridh Jackson 75), Tommy Seymour (Niko Matawalu 68), Finn Russell, Chris Cusiter; (1-8) Gordon Reid, Dougie Hall (Pat MacArthur 58), Jon Welsh (Geoff Cross 58), Tim Swinson, Jonny Gray (Leone Nakarawa 58), Josh Strauss, Chris Fusaro (Rob Harley 63), Ryan Wilson.
Sub not used: Ryan Grant
Yellow card: Ryan Wilson (27)
ULSTER RUGBY
(15-9) Ricky Andrew, Tommy Bowe, Darren Cave, Luke Marshall (Craig Gilroy 71), Andrew Trimble, Paddy Jackson, Paul Marshall (Michael Heaney 74); (1-8) Tom Court, Rob Herring (Niall Annett 68), Ricky Lutton (Declan Fitzpatrick 37 (Andrew Warwick 60)), Johann Muller (Lewis Stevenson 68), Iain Henderson, Chris Henry, Sean Doyle (Mike McComish 68), Nick Williams.
Sub not used: James McKinney.
Yellow card: Sean Doyle (41)
Man of the Match: Mark Bennett (Glasgow)
Attendance: 7,417
Referee: John Lacey (IRFU)[/tag]
Match Report: Glasgow Warriors 27-9 Ulster Rugby
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