Warriors cement second spot on URC table

MATCH REPORT: Johnny Matthews recorded a brace as Glasgow Warriors scored five tries in a 33-14 victory over rivals Edinburgh in the first leg of the 1872 Cup at Hampden Park.

This was the first match to be played at Scotland's national football stadium for 20 years.

And it was the Warriors who thoroughly dominated much of the United Rugby Championship match in front of almost 28,000 spectators, ahead of the return leg at Murrayfield next Saturday.

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It was the home side who stole an early march when the maul drove over Matthews for a try converted by George Horne.

Edinburgh were then temporarily reduced to 14 men when Pierre Schoeman lowered his shoulder into Gregor Brown's head and was shown a yellow card.

Glasgow was quick to take advantage of the extra player when Tom Jordan burst clear after spotting a gap in the opposing defence to set up Huw Jones, who dotted down under the posts before Horne again converted.

Warriors were coping far better with the blustery wind and slippery underfoot conditions and their pack drove Matthews in for his second try of the match and his team's third, with Horne again flawless with the conversion.

Edinburgh were creating nothing as an attacking force and ill-discipline let them down again when Marshall Sykes grabbed Kyle Rowe around the neck and was shown a yellow card.

When the visitors did finally gain entry into the Glasgow 22, their maul was held up before Ali Price was pinged for not releasing.

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The second half opened in the same fashion as the first as the Warriors claimed their fourth try, just two minutes after the restart and the URC bonus point with it.

This time it was Kyle Steyn who scored, the Glasgow captain taking a looping pass wide from Sione Tuipulotu to run down the line unimpeded. Horne, from wide on the touchline, failed to make a difficult conversion.

Little had been seen of Duhan Van Der Merwe on the occasion of his 100th Edinburgh appearance but the Scotland wing then showed what he was capable of with a rampaging run deep into the Glasgow 22.

When Van Der Merwe was held up, the offload fell nicely to Price but the former Glasgow scrumhalf could not control the ball and knocked on.

Glasgow landed their fifth score when Jamie Dobie exchanged passes with Scott Cummings before darting over the line, with Horne adding the extras.

Edinburgh looked in danger of being shut out but claimed the first of two consolation tries late in the contest when Boan Venter burrowed over and Ben Healy converted.

Patrick Schickerling was shown a late yellow card for Glasgow before Venter scored again to make the scoreline a shade more respectable.

The scorers

For Glasgow Warriors

Tries: Matthews 2, H Jones, Steyn, Dobie

Cons: G Horne 4

For Edinburgh

Tries: Venter 2

Cons: Healy 2

Yellow cards: Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh, 12), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh, 28), Patrick Schickerling (Glasgow Warriors, 76)

Teams

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Sebastian Cancelliere, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Kyle Steyn (captain), 10 Tom Jordan, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Mann, 7 Matt Fagerson, 6 Ally Miller, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Johnny Matthews, 1 Jamie Bhatti.

Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Patrick Schickerling, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Grant Stewart, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Duncan Weir.

Edinburgh: 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Matt Currie, 12 Mosese Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Ali Price, 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Luke Crosbie, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist (captain), 4 Marshall Sykes, 3 D'arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Boan Venter, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Ben Muncaster, 21 Ben Vellacott, 22 Ben Healy, 23 James Lang.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)

Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White (Scotland), Ru Campbell (Scotland)

TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)

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