Glasgow snatch late draw from Connacht

Connacht 28 Glasgow 28

Connacht and Glasgow produced the first draw in this season's Celtic League when the Scots came with a late converted try to tie the match and then survive when an injury-time Mark McHugh drop goal came back off the post at the Sportsground on Saturday.

Connacht seemed poised for victory when they ran in three tries in the opening half to lead 25-9 having played with the wind.

Conor McPhillips crossed for two excellent tries after 15 and 27 minutes before Mark McHugh got their third try three minutes from the break.

Eric Elwood converted two of them and also added two penalties.

But Glasgow, winners over leaders Ulster the previous week, refused to give in. Calvin Howarth scored three penalties for Glasgow.

Sean Lamont got a try back fro Glasgow 13 minutes after the restart and they narrowd the deficit to 25-21 going into the final quarter with a try from full-back Glen Metcalf.

Elwood extended Connacht's lead five minutes from time with a penalty but Glasgow broke for a try under the posts in the dying moments from Alan Bulloch.

Connacht continued to press forward and were denied victory deep into stoppage time when Mark McHugh's drop goal attempt came back off the left post.

Connacht: M. McHugh; M. Mostyn, D. Yapp, S. Moore, C. McPhillips; E. Elwood, C. O'Loughlin; D. McFarland, B. Jackman, A. Clarke; M. McCarthy, A. Farley; P. Neville, T. Carter, J. O'Sullivan.

Replacements: T. Robinson for Mostyn, inj. 31 mins; M. Walls for O'Loughlin, 57 mins; D. Browne for Neville, 65 mins; D. Hewitt for Robinson, inj. 75 mins; M. Swift for McCarthy, inj. 82 mins; J. Fogarty for McPhillips, inj. 82 mins.

Glasgow: G. Metcalf; R. Kerr, G. Morrison, A. Bulloch, S. Lamont; C. Howarth, G. Beveridge; E. Murray, S. Lawson, A. Kelly; J. Beardshaw, N. Ross; P. Dearlove, D. Macfadyen, J. Petrie.

Referee: H. Watkins (Wales).