A resilient Glasgow Warriors side fell just short in Dublin on Friday night, narrowly losing 13-5 to Leinster in a bruising finale to the BKT United Rugby Championship regular season.
In a contest high on intensity but low on scoring, it was Jimmy O’Brien’s first-half try and the boot of Sam Prendergast that ultimately proved decisive for the home side. George Horne crossed for Glasgow in the second half to ignite hopes of a comeback, but a late penalty from Ciaran Frawley snuffed out any chance of even a losing bonus point for the visitors.
Under warm evening skies at the Aviva Stadium, it was Franco Smith’s Warriors who started brighter, playing with ambition and tempo. Early interplay between Kyle Rowe and Kyle Steyn nearly unlocked the Leinster defence, and debutant Seb Stephen came within inches of marking his first appearance with a try, only for desperate defence to hold him up.
Adam Hastings had the chance to give Glasgow an early lead from the tee after a Leinster infringement, but his strike from 30 metres cannoned off the upright and out of play.
Leinster gradually grew into the match, and after an earlier O’Brien try was disallowed for an incorrect quick tap by Prendergast, the winger made no mistake on 26 minutes. A flowing move from a tap penalty eventually saw Prendergast fire a long pass wide to O’Brien, who finished well in the corner. The young fly-half converted to give Leinster a 7-0 lead.
Despite trailing, Glasgow remained combative. Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones displayed slick hands in midfield, while flanker Macenzzie Duncan – on his first start – impressed with direct running and a momentum-shifting turnover tackle.
Tuipulotu nearly conjured a try out of nothing with a double chip-and-chase, and the Warriors came even closer just before the break, only to be denied again by scrambling Leinster defence.
The second half began with the same intensity. Tom Jordan, on for Tuipulotu, set the tone with a thunderous tackle on O’Brien, and Glasgow’s pack, led by Euan Ferrie, continued to apply pressure.
Prendergast nudged Leinster further ahead with a penalty on 55 minutes, but Glasgow hit back almost immediately. Rowe burst through a gap and chipped ahead for Cancelliere, whose clever boot back inside was pounced on by Horne for a well-worked score. Hastings, however, couldn’t add the extras, leaving the score at 10-5 with just over 20 minutes to play.
With the match hanging in the balance, Glasgow introduced fresh legs – Stafford McDowall added grunt in an unfamiliar back-row role, and the front row replacements, including Murphy Walker and Nathan McBeth, brought renewed energy.
But despite their sustained pressure and territorial advantage, Glasgow couldn’t find a second breakthrough. Instead, it was Leinster who had the final say as Frawley slotted a late penalty to close out the match and deny Glasgow a losing bonus point.
While the result may not have gone their way, the Warriors will take heart from a performance brimming with fight and defensive grit — qualities they’ll need in abundance when they host the Stormers in the quarter-finals, a rematch of last season’s last-eight clash.
Leinster, already assured of top seeding before kickoff, now turn their attention to a home quarter-final against the Scarlets.
Final Score: Leinster 13, Glasgow Warriors 5.
