Leinster 20 - 14 Glasgow: Battling Glasgow left to rue mistake

GLASGOW will leave Dublin disappointed not to be taking home more than a losing bonus point.

They put in a wonderfully committed effort against a shadow, but still powerful Leinster side that is still unbeaten at home in the Magners League since September 2008.

Sean Lineen's team will be ruing a soft score given away on the half-time whistle which emanated from their own lost line-out. This converted try turned out to be the difference between the teams on a night when Glasgow gave as good they got.

The visitors opened the game promisingly by forcing a scrum penalty virtually from the kick off. Leinster tighthead prop Mike Ross was penalised for dropping the scrum on the half way line.

Such was the strength of the wind that Glasgow were playing into a kick at the posts was not an option for Ruaridh Jackson and the resulting attack came to nothing. When Leinster gained there own scrum penalty minutes later centre Fergus McFadden stepped up and slotted his own long range effort.

After this opening McFadden three-pointer, Glasgow went on to dominate the first quarter in both possession and territory. Jackson was offered a second chance at the posts after CJ Van der Linde failed to roll away in the tackle. His attempt from just outside the 22 was buffeted by the wind and fell short and wide.

Glasgow were offering plenty of physicality in attack but not much guile. The well-organised Leinster defence soaked up wave after wave of Glasgow runners who made little or no headway. Callum Forrester came closest to opening the Glasgow account when he seized on a long and loose Bernard Jackman line-out throw but was held up over the line.

Glasgow kept on the pressure from the resulting scrum and again took the ball through multiple phases. Leinster, though, turned the ball over and hacked it down field and threatened a try themselves. With this same movement continuing, Glasgow opted to run the ball back at Leinster from deep inside their own half.

Jackson moved the ball left and it eventually made its way into Hefin O'Hare's hands midway between the Glasgow 22 and the ten metre line, O'Hare seemingly had nowhere to go. Fifteen seconds later he was touching down under the Leinster posts for one of the tries of the season after beating half a dozen Leinster defenders. Jackson converted.

This was a wake-up call to Leinster. They now cranked up through the gears, utilising their strike runners. McFadden slotted his second penalty of the night after a dangerous tackle on Isa Nacewa had stopped a promising move. Then Nacewa himself slashed through the Glasgow defence working with a delightful off the top lineout ball from Malcolm O'Kelly to touch from a first phase move.

Glasgow, though, didn't cave in in the face of this onslaught and could have scored next when O'Hare had a one-on-one with Girvan Dempsey. The former Ireland full back and last line of defence was up to the task, though, and brought O'Hare down.

13-7 would have been an achievable deficit for Glasgow to turn over in the second half especially playing with the wind. Leinster, however, had other ideas. On the stroke of half-time, Leinster flanker Eoin Sheriff easily stole a defensive Glasgow line-out on the five-metre line. After repeatedly sucking in the Glasgow defenders, the ball was moved right once more and McFadden broke through Stortoni's tackle to touch down for a try which he converted.

The second half remained scoreless for a almost half an hour due to some sloppy handling and aimless kicking. Glasgow, though, looked more likely to score and were stringing some nice handling movements together. These were orchestrated by substitute fly half Colin Gregor who came on shortly after half time.

Gregor looked dangerous on the ball and also got the backline moving well. With just over ten minutes remaining Gregor initiated a wonderful move from within the Glasgow half that broke down just short of the Leinster line. Glasgow maintained their position in the Leinster half.

From the next Glasgow attack the ball was moved left to Gregor. Gregor then brilliantly pushed off his right foot to change the direction of the attack. He ran a beautiful angle towards the left corner flag ghosting past the Leinster defence to touch down for the try on the 15-metre line. He converted his own try.

With the next movement of the game, Glasgow wing DTH Van der Merwe then pulled off a try saving tackle on Leinster wing Michael Keating after Leinster broke from their own half.

It was Glasgow, though, who finished the game stronger, pushing hard well into injury time for the converted try that would have won them the game. Leinster just held out.

Leinster: Dempsey, S. Keogh, O'Malley, McFadden, Nacewa, Berne, O'Donohoe, van der Linde, Jackman, Ross, Toner, O'Kelly, McLaughlin, P. Ryan, S. Keogh. Replacements: Strauss, Wright, Hogan, Sheriff, Keane, Madigan, Keating.

Glasgow: Stortoni, O'Hare, Murchie, Horne, van der Merwe, Jackson, McMillan, Welsh, Hall, Kalman, Barker, Turner, Eddie, Forrester, Vernon. Replacements: Thomson, Low, Harley, Burke, Gregor, McCall, Kinloch.

Scorers: Leinster : Pens McFadden 2, tries McFadden, Dempsey cons McFadden 2 Glasgow tries : O'Hare, Gregor cons Jackson,Gregor.

Referee: N Owens

Attendance: 11,840