Glasgow took a huge step towards a crucial home play-off semi-final by beating Ulster in front of a record crowd at Scotstoun and moving within a point of second place in the Rabodirect PRO12.
The Warriors overcame a sticky first-half spell to surge into control with tries either side of half-time, and go into their game in hand on their top-four rivals the 1872 Cup second-leg against Edinburgh at Scotstoun next week – with their fate in their own hands.
In the end there might have been slight disappointment in the home ranks not to get a try bonus point with the visitors reduced to 14 men for much of the second half after suffering two prop injuries, but their biggest win over the Ulstermen for many years was not to be sniffed at.
Man of the match was young centre Mark Bennett, whose break set up the first try just before half-time that swung the game, also claiming the third try himself midway through the second half. Tommy Seymour scored Glasgow’s other try with the again-impressive Finn Russell perfect with his kicking.
Bennett agreed that the key had been the ten minute spell in the first half when Ryan Wilson was sin-binned and Ulster were in the ascendancy.
“That was the time ot knuckle down and work for each other, and we came through it,” he said. “We’re delighted to get the win against a top side and looking forward to Edinburgh next week.”
Glasgow struggled for much of the first half negotiating the sin-binning but a timely score right on the break from Sean Maitland, his third try in as many games, got them ahead.
Russell kicked Glasgow ahead with a simple penalty inside the first six minutes, but Ulster’s direct running and off-loading saw them dominate the next half-hour and build what seemed to be a vital lead.
Paddy Jackson missed his first penalty shot but landed three more as Glasgow retreated under a wave of Ulster assaults, Wilson being yellow carded as the home side persistently fell foul of referee John Lacey.
With the ball, Glasgow were a little too frantic trying to force passes and were lucky not to concede a try, but the turning point came when Jackson’s long penalty attempt came back off the upright and Wilson came back.
Bennett immediately produced a glorious clean break from his own half and although Peter Horne was hauled down before the line, Glasgow regained attacking possession and after Josh Strauss and Jonny Gray punched holes, Russell’s sharp off-load put Maitland on a great running line in under the posts.
The fly-half converted to give his side the half-time advantage, which they quickly improved upon in the second half.
Russell kicked a penalty after a series of phases which saw Sean Doyle go to the sin-bin, and Glasgow rammed home their advantage when Seymour joined in a goal-line driving maul and emerged with the touchdown.
Russell landed the conversion and Glasgow’s defence then repelled a series of Ulster attacks, holding up Nick Williams over the line and Seymour forcing a big turnover with a huge hit on Tommy Bowe.
Up the other end, Bennett stamped his mark on the game by twisting over close to the line after another neat break, although the TMO needed a few looks before giving the try, Russell converting.
With Ulster reduced when first Declan Fitzpatrick and then Tom Court couldn’t continue, they manfully held out the Warriors from a fourth try and a bonus, but it was a decisive win by the home side.
Att 7417
Glasgow: P Murchie; S Maitland (R Vernon 76), M Bennett, P Horne (R Jackson 76), T Seymour (N Matawalu 67); F Russell, C Cusiter (capt); G Reid (R Grant 49), D Hall (P MacArthur 59), J Welsh (G Cross 59); J Gray (L Nakarawa 59), T Swinson; J Strauss, C Fusaro (R Harley 64), R Wilson.
Ulster: R Andrew; T Bowe, D Cave, L Marshall (C Gilroy 70), A Trimble; P Jackson, P Marshall (M Heaney 70); T Court (A Warwick 50), R Herring (N Annett 70), R Lutton (D Fitzpatrick 38); J Muller (L Stevenson 69), I Henderson; C Henry, S Doyle (M McCommish 70), N Williams.
Ref: John Lacey (IRFU)