Franco Smith’s Glasgow return to top of URC standings

WRAP: Glasgow hooker Gregor Hiddleston scored two first-half tries in their 36-19 win against Connacht at Scotstoun Stadium, which lifted them top of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship table.

After Connacht flyhalf Ciaran Frawley’s missed drop-goal attempt, the visitors powered into an early lead through number eight Sean Jansen’s converted try before Glasgow seized control with three scores before half-time.

Hiddleston touched down to reduce the deficit and after flanker Rory Darge had gone over for a converted score, the hooker went over for his second try, with George Horne adding two conversions to put Glasgow 19-7 up at half-time.

Warriors fullback Josh McKay raced in for the home side’s fourth try, converted by Horne, soon after the restart to extend their lead to 26-7, but Connacht were quick to respond as full-back Josh Ioane touched down and Frawley added the extras.

Kiwi fly-half Ioane went over for his second and Connacht’s third try – Frawley missed his conversion attempt – to leave his side trailing 26-19 with 17 minutes left.

Glasgow then halted Connacht’s momentum as replacement hooker Seb Stephen touched down for their fifth try, converted by Horne, to make it 33-19.

Connacht’s hopes of a fightback were dealt another blow when replacement second-row Josh Murphy was sin-binned.

Glasgow finished with 14 men after Scott Cummings’ late yellow card, but flyhalf Dan Lancaster landed a late penalty to complete the scoring.

Ospreys up and running

Morgan Morris touched down twice in the last nine minutes as Ospreys snatched their first victory of the URC season, 38-31 away to in-form Dragons.

In a bruising, physical Welsh derby that left two players from each side forced off through injury, it was the visitors who powered through at Rodney Parade.

Dragons, second top after three rounds, held a narrow 14-12 lead at the interval, Elliot Dee’s opening score bettered by Keelan Giles and Ross Moriarty only for the latter to be penalised on the cusp of half-time. Moriarty coughed up a penalty try on the line and was sent to the sin-bin as the hosts went in ahead.

Mauls and drives were the order of the day as Ospreys co-captain Sam Parry powered over twice, either side of a second from Dee. Anzelo Tuitavuki then finished off a rare flowing move to make it 28-26 to Dragons – a score that held until Morris bundled over from close range in the 71st minute.

A tense finish ensued, and it was number eight Morris who found himself stationed to make the final push as Mark Jones’ side made it safe with a patient late attack.

Dan Edwards landed his fourth conversion of the night, but the home side still had time to salvage a second bonus point, with Angus O’Brien slotting a last-ditch penalty.

Glasgow Warriors 36-19 Connacht

The scorers:

For Glasgow:
Tries: Hiddleston 2, Darge, McKay, Stephen
Cons: Lancaster, G Horne 3
Pens: Lancaster

For Connacht:
Tries: Jansen, Ioane 2
Cons: Frawley 2

Teams:

Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Fergus Watson, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Macenzzie Duncan, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Fin Richardson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Patrick Schickerling, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Jare Oguntibeju, 21 Ally Miller, 22 George Horne, 23 Bayley Kuenzle

Connacht: 15 Josh Ioane, 14 Shayne Bolton, 13 Bundee Aki, 12 Cathal Forde, 11 Mack Hansen, 10 Ciarán Frawley, 9 Caolin Blade, 8 Sean Jansen, 7 Paul Boyle, 6 Cian Prendergast (captain), 5 Niall Murray, 4 Darragh Murray, 3 Sam Illo, 2 Eoin de Buitléar, 1 Billy Bohan
Replacements: 16 Matthew Victory, 17 Francois van Wyk, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Josh Murphy, 20 Shamus Hurley-Langton, 21 Colm Reilly, 22 Sean Naughton, 23 Sam Gilbert

Referee: Ben Breakspear (Wales)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Finlay Brown (Scotland)
TMO: Aled Griffiths (Wales)

Dragons 31-38 Ospreys

The scorers:

For Dragons:
Tries: Dee 2, Penalty Try, Tuitavuki
Cons: De Beer 3
Pens: O’Brien

For Ospreys:
Tries: Moriarty, Giles, Parry 2, Morris 2
Cons: D Edwards 4

Teams:

Dragons: 15 Huw Anderson, 14 Rio Dyer, 13 Fetuli Paea, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Anzelo Tuitavuki, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Che Hope, 8 Harri Keddie, 7 Harry Beddall, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Ben Carter (captain), 4 Seb Davies, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Rodrigo Martinez
Replacements: 16 Brodie Coghlan, 17 Rhodri Jones, 18 Chris Coleman, 19 Barny Langton-Cryer, 20 Thomas Young, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Angus O’Brien, 23 Fine Inisi

Ospreys: 15 Tom Rogers, 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Keiran Williams, 11 Keelan Giles, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Kieran Hardy, 8 Morgan Morris, 7 Ross Moriarty, 6 Liam Wright, 5 Ryan Smith, 4 Rhys Davies, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sam Parry (captain), 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Efan Daniel, 17 Steffan Thomas, 18 Rhys Henry, 19 Lewis Jones, 20 Morgan Morse, 21 Reuben Morgan Williams, 22 Lawson Creighton, 23 Lalakai Foketi

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Olly Hodges (Ireland)