Scotland dealt significant injury worry as Glasgow Warriors dig in for win

This was a night that thoroughly tested Glasgow’s squad depth and they eventually came through it after surviving a second-half Halloween scare.

With only eight of their 19 Scotland internationals released back to play, an unfamiliar line-up eventually overpowered a Lions side who came within five minutes of landing their first win outside of South Africa for two years.

Warriors, though, are nothing if not resolute. And for the second week in a row they left it late to seal the win when Ollie Smith dived over to claim the bonus point and supplement first-half tries from Fergus Watson, Dan Lancaster and debutant Jack Singleton.

Warriors' Ollie Smith scores the match-winning try. | SNS Group

It had the effect of sending Glasgow to the top of the URC table heading into the international break, although rivals Edinburgh could yet supplant them should they win away to Benetton.

The only real negative on the night was the injury sustained by Jamie Ritchie that curtailed his first home appearance for Warriors after just eight minutes, a significant worry ahead of Scotland’s meeting with the All Blacks next weekend.

Bayley Kuenzle made his first start and thought he had marked it with a try. Singleton did brilliantly to intercept a Lions ball from the line-out, setting in motion an attack that concluded with Kuenzle sliding over the line only to be held up.

Ritchie hobbled off at that point but, undeterred, Glasgow soon forged in front with the opening try. Kuenzle made good ground down the right before play was switched for Lancaster to pick out Watson with a pinpoint kick-pass. Watson pouched it and had the ballast to see off two would-be tacklers to score.

A Chris Smith penalty put the Lions on the board and then a diligent covering tackle from Jare Oguntibeju denied the South Africans from a promising position.

Glasgow weren’t at their fluid best but were still well in control at this point and two more tries before half-time confirmed as much. The first went the way of Lancaster after a burst and offload from Euan Ferrie sent the fly-half running through. Lancaster found George Horne who reversed it back to his half-back partner to score.

Horne was also the creator of the third. His trademark burst through a gap took out several defenders and created the opening for Singleton to swan dive over the line.

That looked like being that but a Lions try early in the second half kept things interesting as Morne van der Berg sniped over from the base of the ruck.

Glasgow were flagging, their first-half impetus having all but vanished. A Watson surge up the field offered fresh promise but, after Max Williamson was held up over the line, Lions capitalised by landing their second try.

Watson appeared to be taken out in the air but play went on. Lancaster’s pass was then intercepted by Kelly Mpeku and he set up Siba Mahashe to score.

The momentum had completely shifted by this point and Lions moved in front for the first time when their maul drove over Morne Brandon to stun Scotstoun.

It looked like Glasgow were heading for their first defeat of the season but they kept pushing and got their reward when Stafford McDowall picked out Smith to score before a late Horne penalty rubbed further salt in Lions’ wounds.