Holders Glasgow subdue Stormers to reach URC semi-finals

BBC News

3 days ago

United Rugby Championship play-offs: Glasgow Warriors v StormersGlasgow Warriors (19) 36Tries: Rowe 2, Darge, Venter, Horne Pen: Horne Con: Horne 4Stormers (13) 18Tries: Senatla 2 Pen: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2 Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu
Glasgow Warriors continued the defence of the United Rugby Championship title by putting the Stormers to the sword to book their place in the last four.Rory Darge, Kyle Rowe and Henco Venter crossed for first-half tries for the hosts, with a Seabelo Senatla try and eight points from the boot of Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu keeping the Stormers within six points at the break.Senatla struck early in the second half for the South African side, but Glasgow responded with tries from George Horne and another from Rowe to ease home with a bit to spare.Warriors will face either Leinster or Scarlets, who meet in Dublin on Saturday, in next weekend's semi-final.
The Stormers had come to Scotstoun looking for revenge after being beaten at this stage in the same venue last season.Feinberg-Mngomezulu kicked the first points of the match as the visitors came out the blocks fast, but Glasgow responded quickly.Stormers wing Senatla was sent to the bin for cynically killing Warriors' momentum after a lovely break from Kyle Steyn. Glasgow kicked to the corner and an innovative lineout move created space for Darge to dive over.That energised the Scotstoun crowd and they soon had more to cheer when Sione Tuipulotu stabbed a clever grubber in behind for Rowe to latch on to and score.Stormers then hit back in bizarre circumstances. Feinberg-Mngomezulu launched an up-and-under from a free-kick that caused chaos in the Warriors 22. The ball bounced kindly for Senatla, just back on after his yellow card, to go in under the sticks.Again, Glasgow's response was swift, Venter peeling off the base of a ruck to power over in the corner.Warriors had to withstand a big Stormers onslaught late in the first half to go in 19-13-up at the break, but they were undone early in the second half as some sharp handling in the backline sent Senatla streaking away for his second try to bring the visitors back within one.This was turning into a URC classic and the breakneck pace showed no sign of slowing up.Tom Jordan found a kink in the Stormers defence and burst through before feeding Rowe to go over for his second try of the evening.Now Glasgow had to buy themselves some breathing space on the scoreboard and they did it in the most glorious fashion.Euan Ferrie snatched a Stormers lineout and off Glasgow went from deep. A succession of brilliantly executed passes ended with Rowe feeding Horne to scamper away for Warriors' fifth try.That ended the South Africans' resistance and Glasgow saw it out in relative comfort to ensure their bid for back-to-back URC crowns remains on course.