Glasgow record first win at Cardiff

Cardiff 35 Glasgow 44

Glasgow started and finished strongly as they opened their Celtic League campaign in style by winning at Cardiff Arms Park for the first time.

The Scots showed their intentions right from the kick-off with two superb early tries, each resulting from slick handling moves stretching the length of the field.

Left-wing Michael Bartlett and prop Donnie MacFadyen were the men who touched down, with Tommy Hayes converting both scores.

Apart from a penalty by Iestyn Harris, Cardiff threatened little until livewire scrum half Ryan Powell, in his 50th appearance for the club, got them back into the game when nipped over from a quickly-taken penalty.

Two minutes later Matt Allen forced his way across following a break by fellow centre Nick Walne and with Harris’ conversion, the home-side were in front.

But two more Hayes penalties to just one from Harris levelled matters at 20-20 by the break.

Cardiff began the second half with a brilliant try just 50 seconds after the restart.

Walne broke clear from a scrum and raced 40 metres before finding Rhys Williams on his shoulder and sending him clear to run under the posts.

But after Cardiff prop Ken Fourie had been sin-binned, Glasgow’s Calvin Howarth darted through to create a try for half-back partner Graeme Beveridge, Hayes’ boot tying up the scores again.

Harris put Cardiff back in front but Glasgow were dominant and their pressure was rewarded with a Gordon Simpson try converted by Howarth.

The Scots rubbed it in with Howarth kicking a penalty and improving a touch down by centre Alan Bulloch as Cardiff’s defence disintegrated.

Deep in injury-time home skipper Martyn Williams crossed for Cardiff’s fourth try to bring the Welshmen the consolation of a bonus point.