Glasgow demonstrated their growth from their previous Champions Cup setback by overpowering Connacht to secure a spot in the URC semi-finals.
Just a month earlier, Franco Smith’s squad faced a similar challenge, only to have their European journey cut short by an unexpected home defeat to Toulon.
This time, however, there was no room for disappointment as they fiercely overcame a strong Connacht team, paving the way for a semi-final clash at Murrayfield next Saturday.
The quarter-final encounter was a back-and-forth affair until Kyle Steyn sealed his standout performance with a second try just seven minutes before the final whistle.
The Warriors crossed the try line five times in total, with Patrick Schickerling, Josh McKay, and Jare Oguntibeju also contributing to the scoreboard, marking one of their most challenging games at Scotstoun in recent memory.
Man-of-the-match Kyle Steyn breaks free to score the crucial try that rubber-stamped victory
However, the victory was tempered by the sight of George Horne limping off late in the match, shortly after making his return from an injury layoff.
Connacht’s stellar form at the tail end of the regular season meant this was always going to be a mission that was much tougher in reality than it might have seemed on paper.
Any Glasgow fans still expecting a stroll in the Scotstoun sunshine were soon given a rude awakening as the visitors sprung into an early lead. Only some terrific goal-line defending kept Connacht out initially but, undeterred, they returned for another go and this time Cian Prendergast wouldn’t be denied.
That was the first indication that Glasgow could be in for a trying night but their focus never wavered as they soon drew level. Horne was denied a trademark snipe try but play was recycled and Schicklerling was able to stretch for the line.
The Connacht penalty count was climbing and Sam Illo paid the price when he was shown a yellow card.
Warriors seemed eager to take immediate advantage of the extra man and looked to have forged in front when Johnny Matthews broke clear for one of his trademark tries on what was his last Scotstoun appearance. The TMO, though, directed referee Adam Jones to have another look and the score was chalked off for a maul infringement.
Patrick Schickerling gets Glasgow back on terms with a 10th-minute try at Scotstoun
It looked as if it was going to take something unusual for someone to move back in front and it almost came from a Glasgow pass not going accurately to hands. Josh Ioane was onto it in a flash and set to sprint 60 yards to the line only for Steyn to somehow close the gap then execute the perfect try-saving tackle.
Connacht came again and this time it was Alex Samuel with the heroics with a bone-crunching hit on Darragh Murray. It was another sign the home side weren’t getting things all their own way.
Warriors needed a flash of inspiration and it came from that man Steyn again. His inch-perfect 50:22 kick earned his team an attacking line-out close to the Connacht line. The Glasgow maul, for once, didn’t have enough grunt to get over but Warriors quickly recycled ball to the backs.
Sione Tuipulotu fizzed a ball to his left and there was Steyn running the perfect line to burst over to hand Glasgow the lead for the first time in the match.
Matthews left the field for the last time to a fond farewell before Warriors got back to business. It looked as if Matt Fagerson would be the man to stretch their lead at the end of a brilliant team passing move but a forward pass from Jack Dempsey earlier in the move saw the score annulled.
That could have stalled Glasgow’s rising momentum but they put it behind them to land a legal third try just seven minutes later. Horne moved quickly from the scrum, finding Tuipulotu at first receiver who moved it on to Dan Lancaster for McKay to come crashing through from full-back to score. Horne made a third flawless conversion and Glasgow’s lead was 14 points.
Olujare Oguntibeju crashes over to score his side’s fourth try against stubborn Connacht
That looked to have turned the tide in Warriors’ favour but Connacht had other ideas. Glasgow thought they had done enough to hold the ball up after multiple pick-and-go efforts but the TMO asked the referee to have another look and a Dave Heffernan try was awarded.
To make matters worse for Glasgow, they also lost Samuel to the sin-bin for multiple offences, while Connacht had Hugh Gavin stretchered off following a heavy collision, all in a frantic few minutes.
That score seemed to give the Irish side fresh momentum but they then came unstuck through a Glasgow try of remarkable simplicity. It went the way of Oguntibeju who lifted the ball from the ruck and simply lumbered through — almost in slow motion — for Warriors’ fourth try.
Again, though, Connacht responded. Their forwards powered away for phase after phase before Finlay Bealham stretched for the line. That kept things in the balance with nine minutes to play but when Steyn took Lancaster’s pass to score in the corner, Glasgow knew they had done enough.
