Matawalu double puts Warriors on top
Nikola Matawalu's first-half double proved vital as Glasgow Warriors returned to the summit of the Pro12 with a riveting 31-13 bonus-point victory over a resolute Connacht at the Sportsground.
The hosts started impressively, controlling the first quarter to lead 6-0 through two Jack Carty penalties, only for the Warriors to hit back through Matawalu's first try.
Yet shortly before the interval, a moment of sublime skill from Tommy Seymour set up Stuart Hogg to cross over, before Matawalu intercepted Robbie Henshaw's pass to complete his double.
That onslaught gave Glasgow an unlikely 19-6 lead at half time, but Seymour was sent to the bin and Aly Muldowney snuck over to cut the deficit as Connacht looked for their first win over the Warriors since February 2011.
Despite going down to 14 men once again when Chris Fusaro was yellow carded, Gregor Townsend's side reaffirmed their title credentials as late tries for Adam Ashe and Seymour dealt a severe blow to Connacht's top-six hopes.
Both teams set out their attacking intentions early on but Connacht got in the first blow at the scrum, winning against the head before a subsequent penalty took them up to the Glasgow 22.
After threatening the line, the hosts settled for a penalty that fly-half Carty knocked over to give his side a 3-0 lead on six minutes.
The hosts had Glasgow rattled as usual scrumhalf Matawalu looked suspect under the high ball deputising out on the wing and Euan Murray was pinged for playing the ball on the floor.
Murray's infringement allowed Carty to bisect the posts with a long-range effort and make it 6-0 after 16 minutes.
Yet Glasgow took their first scoring chance with aplomb, stealing the ball from a Connacht scrum, and retaining possession as Fraser Brown's deft offload put Matawalu over in the corner.
Finn Russell missed the tough conversion to ensure Connacht retained a one-point lead on 25 minutes, before Carty pushed two penalty attempts either side of the posts in quick succession.
The visitors' bold offloading game started to click as Seymour scythed through the Connacht line in sublime style to find Hogg on his shoulder with a pass out the back of his hand.
Hogg ran in to dive over on his return from injury and Russell added the extras to make it 12-6 with half-time quickly approaching.
Yet Glasgow grabbed a third try as Henshaw tried to flick on Carty's fizzing pass, but could only find Matawalu bursting through to cross over and Russell converted to secure the Warriors an unlikely 19-6 lead at the interval.
Connacht continued to show plenty of ambition after the restart but it almost proved to be their undoing again as Russell intercepted and burst clear, only for Henshaw to get back and prevent the try.
And the hosts were handed a chance to get back into contention moments later as Seymour was sent to the bin for illegally slowing the ball down in the 47th minute.
Glasgow held firm with 14 men for six minutes, until Muldowney was judged to have sneaked the ball over the line after referee Marius Mitrea consulted the TMO and Carty's conversion made it 19-13.
As Seymour returned to the pitch, Carty slid a simple penalty attempt wide left, only for Glasgow to go back down to 14 almost instantly as Fusaro was sin-binned for a high tackle.
The balance of the game was shifting at a furious pace as Glasgow scored a crucial fourth try when replacement Josh Strauss broke through to put Ashe under the posts and Russell made it 26-13.
Inside the last ten minutes, Glasgow began to pull clear as Seymour capped a fine showing with a try in the right corner after the Warriors showed quick hands to find the winger.
Russell skewed his conversion wide to leave it at 31-13 and Connacht were unable to score a late consolation try as the Warriors reclaimed top spot.
The scorers:
For Connacht:
Try: Muldowney
Con: Carty
Pens: Carty 2
For Glasgow Warriors:
Tries: Matawalu 2, Hogg, Ashe, Seymour
Cons: Russell 3
Yellow cards: Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors, 46), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors, 59)
Teams:
Connacht: 15 Tiernan O'Halloran, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 Matt Healy, 10 Jack Carty, 9 Kieran Marmion, 8 Eoin McKeon, 7 Eoghan Masterson, 6 John Muldoon (captain), 5 Aly Muldowney, 4 Ultan Dillane, 3 Rodney Ah You, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Denis Buckley.
Replacements: 16 Shane Delahunt, 17 Ronan Loughney, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Andrew Browne, 20 George Naoupu, 21 John Cooney, 22 Miah Nikora, 23 Darragh Leader.
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Richie Vernon, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Niko Matawalu, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray (captain), 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Jerry Yanuyanutawa.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Ryan Grant, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Josh Strauss, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Peter Murchie 23 Lee Jones.
Referee: Marius Mitrea (Italy)
Assistant referees: Andy Brace (Ireland), Oisin Quinn (Ireland)
TMO: Dermot Moloney (Ireland)
