Glasgow hang on to beat Sale
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Glasgow opened their Champions Cup Pool Two campaign with a hard-fought but deserved 13-7 victory over Sale at Scotstoun despite a late charge from the Sharks.
Glasgow dominated the opening period with Sale hardly able to get out of their own territory in the first half-hour.
Flyhalf Adam Hastings made the pressure count with two penalties inside that period to put them 6-0 ahead before Sale enjoyed their best spell of the half without being able to make it count on the scoreboard.
A penalty eased the pressure on the home line and from a midfield move centre Sam Johnson took a poor pass and timed his delivery to wing Daniel Van der Merwe superbly and he strode in to score. Hastings again converted as Glasgow held a 13-0 half-time advantage.
Sale brought on Chris Ashton and Rob du Preez in a bid to increase their threat in attack and they were back in the game on the hour mark.
Glasgow fullback Tommy Seymour lost possession near his line and from the resulting scrum replacement Coenie Oosthuizen forced his way over with AJ MacGinty converting.
The Sharks visibly lifted but Glasgow, whose defensive effort was magnificent throughout, held on in a tense finish to score a richly deserved success.
Glasgow travel to Exeter Chiefs next Saturday as they bid to keep up the momentum while Sale will try and kick-start their campaign when they host La Rochelle on Sunday.
The scorers:
For Glasgow Warriors:
Try: Van der Merwe
Con: Hastings
Pens: Hastings 2
For Sale Sharks:
Try: Oosthuizen
Con: MacGinty
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Tommy Seymour, 14 Ratu Tagive, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Samuel Johnson, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Callum Gibbins (captain), 6 Ryan Wilson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Robert Harley, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Oli Kebble.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Alex Allan, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Chris Fusaro, 21 Ali Price, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Kyle Steyn
Sale Sharks: 15 Simon Hammersley, 14 Marland Yarde, 13 Cameron Redpath, 12 Luke James, 11 Byron McGuigan, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Dan du Preez, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Jean-Luc du Preez, 5 James Phillips, 4 Bryn Evans (captain), 3 Jake Cooper-Woolley, 2 Rob Webber, 1 Ross Harrison.
Replacements: 16 Akker van der Merwe, 17 Valery Morozov, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Matthew Postlewhaite, 20 Jono Ross, 21 Will Cliff, 22 Robert du Preez, 23 Chris Ashton
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
Assistant referees: Adrien Descottes (France), Cédric Marchat (France)
TMO: Patrick Dellac (France)
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