Celtic League: Glasgow set up final pool showdown

Glasgow 58 Ebbw Vale 22

Glasgow set themselves up for their final pool showdown with Llanelli on

Friday by hitting the half-century mark for the second time in three

matches.

After letting two try-scoring chances go in the opening minutes, Tommy

Hayes struck first for Glasgow with a 40-yard penalty.

James McLaren then got on the end of some slick Glasgow handling to

score the first try two minutes later.

Andy Henderson and Glenn Metcalfe combined to put Hayes in on the

quarter hour, the stand-off converting his own try.

Hayes stretched the Glasgow lead with a penalty then Metcalfe put Rory

Kerr off on a 40-yard run and took the return pass for Glasgow’s third

try before Scott Mitchell got Vale on the board with a penalty on the

half hour.

Prop Lee Harrison put Gareth Flockhart in for try number four, then a

minute later Kerr snapped up the ball on the halfway line to go all the

way.

Hayes converted both to take Glasgow in leading 39-3 at half-time, a

scoreline which by no means flattered the home side whose pace and

constant pressure left Vale trailing.

Ebbw Vale came out all guns blazing after the break and a couple of

mistakes by Glasgow in the danger zone let Scott Mitchell in for Vale’s

opening try which the stand off converted himself.

Glasgow were failing to find the spark of the first half and Vale were

enjoying more possession, but they still found themselves floundering on

solid Glasgow defence.

Then Glasgow broke out and Metcalfe was on hand again to put Andy

Henderson over for Hayes to convert and a minute later Graeme Beveridge

won another chase for a touch down.

Having got to a half century for the second time in three games, Glasgow

let the pace drop but still Vale were unable to pierce the home defence,

a Metcalfe tackle on Paul Matthews in particular saving a certain try.

With 10 minutes to go McLaren skinned the Vale defence for his second

try, Barry Irving converted, but David Weatherley took advantage of a

short penalty with five minutes left to drive over for Mitchell to convert and the stand-off scored Vale’s third try in the final minute.