Glasgow 27 - 20 Northampton: Warriors claim first European win

THIS match was finely poised at 20-20 deep inside the final few minutes. Northampton went in search of their fourth touchdown that would secure a bonus point and a fighting chance of a place in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Scorers:

Glasgow: Try: Strauss, Matawalu, Horne Con: Wight 2, Horne Pens: Jackson 2

Northampton: Try: Waldouck, Pisi, Foden Con: Myler Pens: Myler

With an attacking lineout five metres from the Glasgow line no one would have bet against them, but replacement prop Alex Waller threw a punch, saw yellow and Glasgow cleared. Instead the score, when it arrived, came from the home team and it was an absolute humdinger.

The move started deep inside the Glasgow half, the forwards carried a couple of times. The ball was moved to the left and Peter Horne, only moved to stand-off in what proved an inspired tactical decision, passed and supported. He got the ball back from Alex Dunbar, threw an outrageous dummy and stepped inside once, twice and, with 25 yards still to go, he made for the Northampton posts like the hounds of hell were snapping at his heels. He made it, just, before disappearing under a crowd of bodies.

“I’ve never been kissed by so many boys,” joked Horne afterwards. That score alone deserved more than 4,293 who braved the cold to watch the game live at Scotstoun.

“To get a finish like that was great,” said head coach Gregor Townsend. “It’s a reminder of where we should be, winning games in the Heineken Cup. We have been competitive, but we’re here to win and that will be a good boost to us in the knowledge that if we play well we’ll get the win.

“If there is any player that deserves a try like that it is Peter Horne. He puts in the most work of any player to improve himself. He is really committed. He gets back on his feet and makes tackle after tackle. Not just the finish, which was outstanding, but his pass and support work.”

Worryingly for Scotland, Ruaridh Jackson left the field around the half-hour mark with a recurrence of a rib injury, but it is not expected to sideline him for the England game. Scott Wight took over and played his part before he was replaced as playmaker by Horne.

After Jackson had given his team an early 6-0 advantage, Saints dominated most of the first half, but Glasgow hung on to their coat-tails and never let the illustrious visitors build a lead. Three times in the opening 40 Saints stand-off Stephen Myler chipped kickable penalties into the corner and twice the Glasgow forwards kept the giant English pack at bay. One hit by Gordon Reid on Lawes could be felt in the back row of the stand.

Saints eventually scored at the third attempt when centre Dominic Waldouck found a gap in the home midfield. Glasgow had two cracking opportunities to get back on terms, but squandered both.

The best chance went to Sean Maitland who combined beautifully with Stuart Hogg up the left flank, the full-back right back to his best, only for the Kiwi flyer to trip over his own feet with the line begging. Niko Matawalu, a handful all match, lobbed an overhead pass to put Josh Strauss away up the right flank. That attack, like so many others from Glasgow, ended in a turnover.

The visitors took a 10-6 lead into the half-time break, but, if the first 40 had been a cagey affair, the match opened up in the second half with end-to-end action and the lead changing hands five times.

Glasgow scored five minutes after the restart with Al Kellock making the initial break and Josh Strauss showing great strength to carry ­several defenders across the line with him. Glasgow had been on the ropes for much of the first half, but they dominated the opening of the second and could have had another try if Matawalu had shown a little more patience. Instead, the little Fijian put in a speculative chip kick that just relieved the pressure.

Ryan Lamb was thrown into the fray and the Saints stand-off had an immediate influence. One cross-field kick only just beat Jamie Elliot to the corner, but, not long later, Lamb’s long cut-out pass allowed Samoan centre George Pisi to reclaim the lead for the visitors.

They didn’t have long to enjoy it. After swapping his scrum-half berth for the wing, Matawalu latched on to a loose pass from Ben Foden and, after a little juggle, the Fijian was never going to be caught.

Saints were down but far from out. The ball squirted out of a Glasgow scrum, Tom Wood was first to react and, when the ball was moved wide to the left, Foden was able to dive over in the corner to level the scores with eight minutes left to play.

The final few minutes were frantic as Saints went in search of the winning, bonus-point try that would keep their European hopes alive. Instead, the final word went to Horne and the stand-in stand-off scored one of the stand-out tries of the tournament, earning Glasgow their first European win of the season.

Glasgow: Hogg, Seymour, McGuigan (Horne 55 min), Morrison, Maitland; Jackson (Wight 30 min)(Dunbar 70 min), Matawalu (Kennedy 60 min); Reid, MacArthur (Hall, 55 min), Low, Swinson, Kellock, Strauss, Eddie, Wilson (Ryder 45 min).

Northampton: Foden, Wilson (May 55 min) Pisi, Waldouk, Elliot; Myler (Lamb 55 min), Dickson, Tonga’uiha, Hartley (Haywood 68 min), Doran-Jones (Waller 55 min), Manoa, Lawes (Oakley 50 min), Clark (Sorenson 38 min), Wood, Dowson.

Referee: Leighton Hodges (WRU). Attendance: 4,293.