Injury rules Ford out of Irish game

Glasgow Warriors 8 Border Reivers 20

The young Borders hooker - who starred in the closing stages of the historic triumph over world champions England at Murrayfield - was stretchered off after just two minutes of the crucial Celtic League clash at Firhill.

Ford suffered serious knee ligament damage as he landed awkwardly in a challenge and is likely to be sidelined until next season.

Ironically, the man he was directly opposing - Scotty Lawson - will take his place in Frank Hadden’s national squad for next weekend’s encounter with Ireland in Dublin and against Italy in Rome seven days later.

Ford’s plight took the shine off the Reivers victory, which made them firm favourites to pip the hosts for Scotland’s second automatic slot in next season’s Heineken Cup behind championship contenders Edinburgh.

Glasgow scorers: Tries: Pinder. Pens: Gregor.

GLASGOW: Staniforth, Lamont, Morrison, Davey, Roberts, Gregor, Pinder, Tckachuk, Lawson, Murray, Turner, Hamilton, Swindall, Petrie, Hayter.

Replacements: Howarth for Staniforth (75), O’Hare for Roberts (43), Thomson for Lawson (64), Harrison for Murray (71), Beattie for Hayter (51).

Borders scorers: Tries: Danielli, Miller. Cons: MacRae 2. Pens: MacRae 2.

BORDERS: Moffat, Walker, MacDougall, Danielli, MacRae, Townsend, Cusiter, Thomson, Ford, Cross, MacLeod, Palepoi, Brown, Miller, Sititi.

Replacements: Hore for Townsend (59), Scott for Ford (3), McGee for Cross (70), Gray for Miller (54), Dalziel for Sititi (70).

Ref: Rob Dickson (Scotland).

Cardiff Blues 40 Neath-Swansea Ospreys 14

A brilliant solo try and a man-of-the-match performance by Cardiff Blues fly-half Nicky Robinson did more than inspire a bonus point victory over Celtic League champions Neath-Swansea Ospreys.

It will have reassured watching Wales coach Scott Johnson that he has a capable deputy standing by in case Stephen Jones is not fit in time for next Saturday’s RBS Six Nations Championship match against Italy.

With wing Chris Czekaj chipping in with a 15-minute hat-trick, the Blues romped to a deserved double over a dismal and dispirited Ospreys team.

The visitors had Gavin Henson featuring at full-back.

Cardiff Blues scorers: Tries: N. Robinson, Czekaj 3, J. Robinson. Cons: N. Robinson 3. Pens: N. Robinson 3.

CARDIFF BLUES: R. Williams, Morgan, J. Robinson, Stcherbina, Czekaj, N. Robinson, M. Phillips, Yapp, Goodfield, Jenkins, D. Jones, Goode, Molitika, Sowden-Taylor, Rush.

Replacements: L. Thomas for Stcherbina (78), R. Powell for M. Phillips (72), M. Jones for Yapp (71), Johnson for Goodfield (74), Quinnell for Goode (61), Schubert for Molitika (73).

Ospreys scorers: Tries: Bater. Pens: Henson. Drop Goals: Connor 2

OSPREYS: Henson, Terblanche, A. Bishop, S. Parker, S. Williams, Connor, Spice, Griffiths, Hibbard, Millward, Newman, Evans, Bater, Tandy, Thomas.

Replacements: M. Jones for Connor (65), Roberts for Spice (65), Bennett for Hibbard (51), Bateman for Evans (59), D. Dillon for Tandy (59). Not Used: Mitchell, Mustoe. Att: 7,165

Ref: Tim Hayes (WRFU).