Glasgow Warriors edge out DHL Stormers to reach semi-finals

Tries from Sebastian Cancelliere, Henco Venter and Ross Thompson helped Glasgow Warriors book their place in the semi-finals of the BKT United Rugby Championship with a 27-10 win over the DHL Stormers at Scotstoun.

A cagey contest caught fire in the second half when the two sides traded three tries in just seven minutes, with Warriors also benefiting from Stormers fly-half Manie Libbok missing all four of his efforts from the tee.

Glasgow’s reward is a last-four tie against Munster in Limerick next weekend as they look to move closer to their first piece of silverware since 2015.

Warriors rarely kick for the posts but elected to take the three points on offer when Stormers were pinged, Horne atoning for his earlier error by making a straightforward kick.

There was a moment of concern for Kyle Steyn after the Glasgow captain caught Stormers full-back Warrick Gelant with his arm as the pair contested a high kick.

The TMO and the referee consulted before deciding a penalty was sufficient punishment, with Libbok again failing to find the target from the tee.

When the home side were then awarded a scrum penalty, they again went for the posts rather than the corner and Horne made no mistake in doubling his side’s lead.

Stormers’ cause was not helped when they lost their captain Salmaan Moerat to a yellow card in the second half after making head on head contact with Warriors’ replacement Nathan McBeth.

Even with a man fewer, however, it was the visitors who stayed on top and they got their reward with the first try of the game.    

It was a terrific move, Gelant feeding Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu who in turn offloaded to Ben Loader who scored in the corner. Libbok could not add the extras from out wide.

That temporarily stunned the home crowd but it was not long before they had a score of their own to celebrate.

Stormers bobbled the kick-off providing Sione Tuipulotu with possession and the Scotland centre’s mazy run set up Cancelliere to score, with Horne converting.

The game had by now burst into life and Stormers gave themselves another lifeline when Paul de Wet dummied and burst over from close range.

But Libbok again missed the conversion, from right in front of the posts, and Warriors’ second try of the match settled the outcome.

Venter was the man to dive over after a series of pick-and-goes, before Thompson capped his 50th appearance by diving over right before the full-time hooter to complete the scoring.

BKT United Rugby Championship Player of the Match

George Horne passed up a glaring early chance to give Glasgow the lead but never let his head go down as he put on a typically energetic display at scrum-half to earn the home side victory. Flawless off the tee, Horne was the catalyst for a terrific second-half performance.

Play of the match

Glasgow needed some inspiration after conceding the first try of the game and Sione Tuipulotu provided it just moments later. The Scotland centre took advantage of Stormers bobbling the restart and embarked on a brilliant penetrating run before finding Sebastian Cancelliere to score.