Thomson boots Glasgow to victory
PRO14 REPORT: Nine points from the boot of Brandon Thomson were enough for Glasgow Warriors as they battled to a 9-3 victory over Ospreys.
Sam Davies missed two first-half penalties for the Welsh side, which would end up proving costly as his opposite number finished with a perfect record from the tee to guide them to victory.
A scrappy opening ten minutes set the tone for the rest of the game, as both sides kicked the ball away and struggled under the high ball in wet and windy conditions.
Glasgow defied the wind in their faces at Scotstoun to have most of the early pressure, while Ospreys continued to kick the ball long into the opposition half.
When they finally did run from deep, flank Sam Cross crashed through a tackle and set Tom Habberfield free, but he was wrapped up just metres short of the line by opposite number Nick Frisby.
Ospreys’ Davies had the first chance to put points on the board but the flyhalf slid his kick past the left-hand post.
With his second chance Davies finally opened the scoring to make it 3-0 to the visitors on 31 minutes.
Davies, captaining the Ospreys for the first time on the night, had another chance before the break but this time pulled it wide right.
It took the hosts just 90 seconds after the break to win a penalty deep in the Welsh outfit’s half, with Brandon Thomson’s successful kick at goal drawing Glasgow level.
The Scottish side continued to pile on the pressure after the break, they went through more than a dozen phases but as they got inside the five-metre line, they turned the ball over and Ospreys cleared.
Glasgow continued to rely on tight phase play, as they dominated territory in the second period. It eventually told on the scoreboard as Thomson notched another kick to edge his side 6-3 in front.
Thomson added another a few minutes later, as he made the most of the wind behind him to notch a kick from 55 metres.
Ospreys sprung into life once the Scottish outfit extended their lead to six points and they were buoyed for the final ten minute as Nikola Matawalu was sent to the sinbin for foul play.
The visitors looked like they could make the most of the man advantage with two minutes on the clock, but blindside Olly Cracknell was penalised for taking the man out at the ruck when his side were going through the phases a few metres from the line.
The Welsh outfit had threatened to score from the attack but the back-rower’s error proved costly, with no other chances before the game ended.
The scorers:
For Glasgow Warriors:
Pens: Thomson 3
For Ospreys:
Pen: Davies
Yellow card: Niko Matawalu (Glasgow Warriors, 70)
Teams:
Glasgow: 15 Ruaridh Jackson, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Stafford McDowall, 11 Niko Matawalu, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Nick Frisby, 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Matt Smith, 6 Rob Harley (captain), 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Siua Halanukonuka, 2 Kevin Bryce, 1 Alex Allan.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Smith, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 D’Arcy Rae, 19 Tevita Tameilau, 20 Thomas Gordon, 21 Robbie Nairn, 22 Alex Dunbar, 23 Rory Hughes.
Ospreys: 15 Dan Evans, 14 Hanno Dirksen, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Cory Allen, 11 Luke Morgan, 10 Sam Davies (captain), 9 Tom Habberfield, 8 Rob McCusker, 7 Sam Cross, 6 Olly Cracknell, 5 James King, 4 Lloyd Ashley, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: 16 Scott Otten, 17 Rowan Jenkins, 18 Gheorghe Gajion, 19 Will Griffiths, 20 Will Jones, 21 Matthew Aubrey, 22 Luke Price, 23 Tiaan Thomas-Wheeler
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dave Sutherland (Scotland), Rob Sullivan (Ireland)
TMO: Charles Samson (Scotland)
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