mens
United-rugby-championship
Jamie Dobie scored two tries in his 100th appearance for Glasgow as the Warriors came from behind to beat Munster 26-20 in their opening game of the new United Rugby Championship season at Thomond Park.
JJ Hanrahan kicked a penalty to give Munster an early lead against Glasgow – who were top of the table at the end of the season before losing to Bulls in the semi-final at Murrayfield – Ollie Smith was sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock on after nine minutes.
Ben O’Connor scored Munster’s first try in the 14th minute when he ran over from a tackle before Dobie got Glasgow on the board just after half an hour from a maul.
Munster, however, led 17-7 at the break after Michael Milne struck from close range and Hanrahan again converted.
Nathan McBeth scored a second try for the Warriors after 52 minutes when he went over in the corner, but Hanrahan kicked another penalty just before the hour mark to restore Munster’s lead to six points.
After summer signing Bayley Kuenzle made his competitive Glasgow debut coming off the bench, Glasgow took the lead for the first time in the 68th minute when George Horne crossed after Dobie broke towards the line and then converted his try. Dobie wrapped things up when he headed over again in the corner with four minutes remaining to secure the bonus point.
In another place, the Sharks opened their United Rugby Championship campaign with an impressive 41-24 victory Ospreys at Kings Park, where 20-year-old Luan Giliomee scored in each half.
The home team, who missed the playoffs last season, got off to a quick start, scoring three tries in the first 30 minutes. Captain Nick Hatton finished off a quick passing move before Manu Tshituka crashed over and full-back Giliomee then showed great pace to clear.
The Ospreys rallied with a try from wing Luke Morgan before Lili Bester added another for the South Africans when he curled a rough kick into the corner and Vusi Moyo added the extras again.
Sam Parry skipped the line in extra time as the Sharks took a 28-14 lead into the break.
Australian Liam Wright raced through to score his debut try for the Welsh side five minutes after the restart, but Lawson Creighton’s conversion attempt was wide.
Moyo slotted over two penalties to further extend the Sharks’ lead before Giliomee scored a second try, curling in a corner, in the 67th minute. Iestyn Hopkins then added a late consolation try to secure the bonus point for the Ospreys after Kieran Hardy’s break.
Meanwhile, last season’s URC finalists Pretoria Bulls were defeated Zebras 47-13 in Parma.
The South African side ran in a total of seven tries, opened the scoring with a penalty try, and after building a 21-6 lead at half-time, remained relentless after the break.
Matteo Canali was shown a yellow card after making a poor tackle, which led to a penalty try, and although Tommaso Allan’s two strikes briefly made it 7-6, it was the closest the hosts got.
Reinhardt Ludwig and Paul de Wet both touched down before the break, while Ruan Vermaak and Harold Vorster also crossed shortly after the break.
Alessandro Fusco scored Zebre’s only try after the Italian side won the attack and led the charge.
Ludwig added his second try with four minutes remaining and Zac Burger converted a lineout opportunity after the whistle went to complete the scoring.
In Wales, Cardiff came out on top in the first Welsh derby of the season with a 21-15 win against Scarlets.
The key moment came late in the second half when fullback Blair Murray’s shot was deemed to have hit the touchline, as confirmed by the televised match official.
Cardiff took full advantage of the attacking position handed to them by Evan Lloyd for the fifth and final try of the game.
Joe Roberts gave the Scarlets, for whom vice-captain Ryan Elias made his 200th appearance, the lead in the sixth minute before Dan Thomas was sent off from the maul.
Murray’s individual try put the hosts back in front but Taine Basham struck to put Cardiff 14-12 up at half-time.
Scarlets restored the lead with a Joe Hawkins penalty before Lloyd had the final, decisive say.
