Glasgow Warriors overturned a tense battle against Munster, securing a dramatic last-minute victory
Glasgow Warriors pulled off a sensational comeback against Munster, sealing a nail-biting 28-25 victory in the United Rugby Championship (URC). With a late surge, the Scottish side overcame a stubborn Munster team to move within eight points of table-toppers Leinster.
The match began with Munster suffering an early setback when Fineen Wycherley was sin-binned for an illegal lift on Glasgow’s Alex Samuel. However, despite being down a man, Munster struck first. The visitors capitalised on a Warriors mistake near the try line, launching a swift counter-attack that ended with John Hodnett diving over after a smart offload from Andrew Smith. Tony Butler converted to give Munster an early lead.
The Irish side soon extended their advantage when Sean O’Brien showcased his strength, bulldozing through defenders to touch down. Butler’s conversion, however, sailed wide.
Warriors Fight Back
Glasgow needed a spark, and they found it through Sione Vailanu, whose crucial turnover set up an electrifying move. Stafford McDowall and Ollie Smith combined brilliantly to send George Horne over for his 54th try for the club—matching the record held by DTH van der Merwe. Adam Hastings converted to cut the deficit.
Munster responded with a Butler penalty, but Glasgow refused to let the game slip away. McDowall and Smith linked up again, this time feeding Kyle Steyn, who raced over for a second Warriors try. Another successful Hastings conversion brought Glasgow within a point at the break, trailing 15-14.
Second Half Drama
Munster struck first in the second period with another Butler penalty, and when O’Brien powered through for his second try, converted by Rory Scannell, the visitors looked in control.
But Glasgow were far from finished. Matt Fagerson made an immediate impact from the bench, breaking off a ruck to crash over the try line. Hastings, faultless with the boot, added the extras.
With momentum shifting, Munster found themselves under immense pressure. Glasgow’s relentless attack paid off when substitute Nathan McBeth forced his way over for a crucial bonus-point try, giving his team the lead for the first time in the match. Hastings kept his perfect kicking record intact, sealing a three-point cushion.
Final Whistle and Playoff Implications
Despite a late push from Munster, Glasgow held firm, securing a hard-fought victory. Munster salvaged a losing bonus point but dropped to sixth place in the standings. Meanwhile, Glasgow’s triumph sees them close the gap on leaders Leinster, who face the Pretoria Bulls on Saturday.
With just a few rounds remaining, every point matters, and this thrilling contest proved why the URC remains one of the most competitive leagues in rugby.
