Glasgow 19-9 Scarlets: Returning Ruaridh Jackson in fine form as he kicks Glasgow to win

By MARTIN HANNAN
Published on Friday 10 February 2012 01:32

ALTHOUGH they exhibited the current Scottish trait of not being able to put their opponents away when clearly the better side, Glasgow did quite enough to win this RaboDirect PRO12 match at Firhill.

A try from prop Jon Welsh and 14 points from the boot of Ruaraidh Jackson ensured victory over Scarlets and moved the Warriors into third place in the league.

The Welsh team went home without even a bonus point and frankly they didn’t deserve it.

Both sides were missing their internationalists, although Glasgow were able to recall Graeme Morrison. As if he had a point to prove, the centre went on to put in a man-of-the-match showing.

Much interest centred on Jackson’s return from a hamstring injury and, although the young internationalist was rusty at first, he came good.

“My body has taken a few knocks and it feels weird to be playing again,” said Jackson, “but it’s great to be back. I found my feet in the second half and hopefully I can now carry that on.”

It was dishonours even for the two goalkickers early on when Scralets’ Dan Newton narrowly missed a penalty from 24 metres before Jackson did the same from a similar distance.

Scarlets could not get out of their own half, however, and, when their forwards piled over at a ruck, Jackson punished the visitors with the three-pointer from just outside the 10m line.

With captain for the night Graeme Morrison making yards over the gain line each time he got the ball, Scarlets were resorting to illegality to stop Glasgow attacks. After 19 minutes, Jackson had the chance to put his side further ahead but failed with a penalty from the half-way line, the ball dropping well short.

The home pack were dominating but Jackson thoroughly blotted his copybook after 23 minutes when he took a throw-in to himself deep in his own 22 and then found that he was completely isolated, conceding the penalty in front of goal which Newton kicked.

That the Glasgow stand-off seemed nervy was a concern for the home fans at this point, but worry of a very serious nature surrounded Scarlets loose-head prop Iestyn Thomas who received lengthy medical attention before being stretchered off wearing a neck brace in the 29th minute. He had collided with Rob Verbakel entirely accidentally, and had to be replaced by Rhodri Jones.

The new arrival’s first action was to concede a penalty at a five-metre scrum won by David Lemi’s clever run and chip. Glasgow realised the Welsh scrum was rocking, and opted to take the scrum again. Jon Welsh burrowed over for the try at the subsequent ruck with the unfortunate Jones and his colleagues in disarray. Jackson goaled the conversion but, two minutes later, he missed an easy chance for a further three points when Scarlets once more committed a ruck offence. Glasgow were clearly superior, but Jackson’s waywardness off the kicking tee meant they reached half time leading only 10-3.

There had been some juicy individual contests all across the pitch, with Glasgow scrum-half Henry Pyrgos, who has just signed an extended contract, coming out on top against Gareth Davies largely due to an excellent kicking performance.

Scarlets came out for the second half looking considerably more pepped up and immediately running more directly. They soon had a huge rumbling move that came to within a few metres of the Glasgow line only for Morrison to down what looked like three men single-handedly, forcing the concession of a penalty which Jackson cleared upfield.

A searing break by Lemi followed up by Chris Fusaro saw Glasgow deep in their opponents’ 22. Morrison almost barrelled over, but the ball broke to Andy Fenby who was clear all the way to Aberfoyle, only for referee Owens to call him back for an earlier offside.

Jackson kicked the penalty to move Glasgow ten points clear, but after 54 minutes, Newton pulled three back with a penalty.

Newton made it 13-9 with a penalty just before the hour mark, but suddenly the Glasgow forwards had men in numbers in the opposition 22 for the first time in the half and Scarlets conceded a penalty at a ruck which Jackson goaled. After 70 minutes, Liam Davies failed to release the ball when thumpingly tackled by Forrester and Jackson’s straightforward penalty kick put Glasgow 19-9 ahead with ten minutes to play.

“We had worked on our defence,” said Warriors coach Sean Lineen, “but it was a little bit frustrating that we did not get another try or two, though you can’t fault the guys for their efforts tonight.”

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SeniorandSenior

Saturday, February 11, 2012 at 05:32 PM

I hate the way Scottish supporters destroy their own players. Jackson returns from injury, Glasgow win, yet he's described as "gash". Morrison too. It's no wonder our national side don't deliver anything.

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BitterWhiskey

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 06:42 PM

Pyrgos was ok, Jackson was poor and Morrison was his same old self - poor! Nathan at 12 would be better with Dunbar outside him. Dunbar and Wight need chances to prove themselves. They need to be more expansive as the best teams can do the dirty tight stuff like Glasgow but then also know how to spin the ball wide.

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daffy_b

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 02:23 PM

Thought the game was definitely a game of 2 halves with Glasgow good(ish) in 1st, but lost their way a bit in second - but they still deserved the win. Jackson was mediocre (his kicking was gash), but he is coming back from injury, so hopefully it's just ring-rustiness. Scott Wight MUST MUST MUST get some more game time - he looks exciting and different but needs more exposure and I was disappointed he didn't get on last night. Thought the back-row had a reasonably good game, albeit they shone primarily in defensive roles rather than attacking ones. Morrison was good (I'm not a fan). Pyrgos is a good (possibly could be great) player - but I think he sometimes takes too much on himself and last night god caught a few times by Scarletts' back row because he won't offload when he should. In all a workmanlike perfomance to get the win - long may it continue.

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Sevendirtywords

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:32 PM

Fine form is something of an overstatement of Jackson's game yesterday. I know many are desperate to have him back in contention for Scotland duty but on lasst nights showing he still has a bit of work to do. His case is not helped by media spin like this ................. His performance was competent. Nothing more, nothing less. He's been out with injury and barely played since the world cup so it is hardly susprising that he looked off the pace yesterday. He seemed to struggle with the timing off set moves and a few of his passes were earlylate or highlow as a result. Nothing shocking, just "off the pace" ............. His case wasn't helped either by a poor scrum half performance inside him or a back line that couldn't execute .......... The real positive in all of this was that he came through 80 minutes unscathed. However, he looks like he needs a few more games before troubling Robinson's selectoral thoughts.

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Goongoozler

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 01:24 PM

What game was this reporter at ....Jackson was a pile of pants last night......headless chicken....Lineen has to give Wight more chances when Weir is away cos Jackson's had way too many

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chris

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 12:08 PM

Agree with all the comments about Jackson, is way overrated and in my opinion maybe the the worst fly half in the league. He missed 2 kicks right in front of the posts which he does all the time and another which was a slightly harder angle. His kicking is v inconsistent and play making is non existent. I cringe when you see him try something that is way above his ability - last night he took a short throw in to himself (almost missed) ran in to the middle of the park, got tackled, held on to the ball then gifted them penalty in front of the posts - ar**hole. Weir is rightly our 1st choice no 10. We need to give Scott White a chance against teams like Connacht and Aironi in the upcoming games for experience instead of having to rely on that dud Jackson. Thought Morrison was brilliant - although with the amount of tackles he put in he was playing like a 6 or 7. Hopefully being dropped is the boot up the ar*e he needs as had a poor season thus far.

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Sgian Dubh

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:43 AM

Thought Pyrgos should have been MOM as he was the one being praised to the heavens by the Welsh commentary team, I was surprised when Morrison got the nod. I think the whole style of play was dictated by poor conditions and it was a banana skin Glasgow had to get past to consolidate their place in the playoff positions. Well done, game won, and keep it up!

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Little Dick

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 09:37 AM

As ive posted previously.....Jackson is a very overated rugby player and proved it again last night .....bereft of basic skills..should have been replaced by Scott Wight after htime

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Thelonius Monk

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 08:11 AM

Glasgow play an effective but fairly unattractive brand or rugby at the moment. The linking up between the backs is terrible either hoofing it up field or passing it so deep there is no penetration. Jackson was poor as was Morrison (amazed he got MOTM). Having said that theydid look the better side. Is it because their pitch is so churned up that they choose to play this style of rugby?

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widdershins

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 07:04 AM

I'm afraid Ruaraidh has a wee bit to go before he's the top dog in the number 10 shirt again. As the article states he missed a few kicks to the posts (3 I think), didn't look confident kicking to touch (rarely gained us any significant ground), was bounced offmissed a fair few tackles & failed to pass to his outside man when we had a 2 on 1 overlap that could've easily led to a try. First game back, but not Scotland ready in comparison to the form of Laidlaw & Weir.

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DJ77

Friday, February 10, 2012 at 04:34 AM

What a misleading title to this article. Jackson was not at all in fine form according to the rest of the article. In fact he had a pretty indifferent game and the form player was actually the man outside him, Morrison.

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