Glasgow close in on play-off spot with win over Leinster

BOTH Scottish teams are still in the running for the Magners League play-offs, but the only team that can now deny Glasgow a place is Edinburgh.

Sean Lineen's team last night took a step nearer the newly-created play-offs by beating an under-strength Leinster side 30-6 in their last home game of the ordinary season.

The victory moved Glasgow into second spot, just four points behind Leinster with one game remaining.

Munster and the Ospreys, currently in third and fourth places, meet at Thomond Park in Limerick tonight and Edinburgh are in action tomorrow at Murrayfield against Ulster, where victory would push Rob Moffat's side into the top four – unless the Limerick game ends in a draw, which would leave Edinburgh a point outside the play-offs.

However, with six points between the Scottish sides, if Edinburgh were to lose tomorrow Glasgow's play-off place will be sealed.

Lineen said: "It's great to have both Scottish teams still in there. Edinburgh need to beat Ulster now and it would be great to get both of us into the last four.

"But as far as we're concerned that's in our own hands now and we're focusing on that. I'm pleased with the win, but disappointed not to get the bonus point.

"The win was always what we concentrated on, but for large periods of the game we couldn't get our attack going; they slowed the game down and we lost our composure at times.

"We couldn't match their intensity at the breakdown and we also played the game in the wrong areas of the park at times.

"We scored three good tries. It was good to see Rob Dewey back and scoring, and to see Duncan Weir get on too. To score 30 points against any Leinster team is not easy to do, but I know we can play better and that will be the focus next week as we prepare for the last game."

That will be away to the Llanelli Scarlets, but in two weeks' time as the league takes a break for the Heineken Cup semi-finals.

Lineen acknowledged the crowd's appreciation of Dan Parks, Kelly Brown and Mark McMillan, for whom this may have been their final Firhill appearance before leaving for new clubs – should Glasgow finish first or second in the table they would be back at Firhill for the semi-final – but added: "Nothing's done yet and it will be back to business next week."