Match Report: Glasgow win 10-try thriller to clinch Round of 16 spot
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Glasgow Warriors confirmed their progression to the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 as they held on to win 40-26 in an 10-try cracker at USAP on Saturday.
Johnny Matthews, Richie Gray, Stafford McDowell, Samuel Johnson, Ollie Smith and Josh McKay went over for the Scottish region, who made it three victories from three in Pool A.
Yellow cards for Smith, Tom Gordon and Cole Forbes made Glasgow’s task somewhat tougher at the Stade Aimé Giral, with USAP crossing four times to take a losing bonus point.
The French hosts started strong as Eddie Sawailau and Nino Seguela dotted down inside 11 minutes, either side of Johnson’s response for Glasgow.
Super Slick 😍
When @GlasgowWarriors need to send the ball to the wings, they’ll get it there... easy 👏#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/RrNMkTsYcJ
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) January 14, 2023
The visitors wrestled control over the remainder of the first half as Smith returned from his early sin bin, Gray, McDowell and Matthews all notching before the interval.
Matteo Rodor kept USAP in contention with a score on 54 minutes while Gordon was in the sin bin, but Smith and McKay had restored Glasgow’s healthy lead 10 minutes later.
Posolo Tuilagi got over for USAP’s fourth in the closing stages after Forbes had seen yellow, but Glasgow ensured the TOP side were handed a third successive pool stage defeat.
Top seeding for the knockout stage will be the target for Glasgow as they host Bath Rugby in Round 4 on Friday, with USAP travelling to Bristol on the same day.
