WARRIORS 22 – 9 MUNSTER

Ruaridh Jackson touches down for the only try of the game.

Glasgow Warriors made the very best of starts to their 2009/10 Magners League campaign as they defeated reigning champions and former European champions Munster at Firhill tonight.

A firey match that had the 3,654 crowd gripped from the very start, Glasgow were impressive in just about every area of their game as their bite more than matched Munster’s bark.

After the game, a very pleased Warriors head coach, Sean Lineen, said: “That was a really hard game of rugby.

“I can’t speak highly enough of the front five. I’ve never seen a Glasgow side scrummage like that during my time in charge.

“We refused to get soaked into the arm wrestle that Munster wanted. They tried to force a few of our guys into being sent off, but they ended up losing a few of their own instead.

“It was a real battle and we came out on top.”

Both sides entered the contest all-guns-blazing. Despite the flight of an early up-and-under from Dan Parks landing behind the playmaker, Glasgow rallied in defence and put in some colossal early hits from the likes of Chris Cusiter, Johnnie Beattie and Dougie Hall as the visitors pinned them back on the five metre line.

Munster were then penalised for holding onto the ball on the deck and Parks cleared the danger.

Munster stand-off Jeremy Manning put the opening points on the board with a seventh minute penalty, but Parks cancelled that effort just four minutes later. Parks then edged Glasgow into the lead with two further penalties at the half-hour mark.

Munster then continued to push the boundaries of legal play and Welsh referee James Jones’ patience was dealt a final blow when Peter Stringer was punished for not rolling away from the tackle.

Parks slotted the penalty as Stringer took his seat in the sin bin and Glasgow’s second half hopes started to look as bright as their first.

Half-time score: Glasgow Warriors 12 – 3 Munster

Munster began a brief comeback in the opening stages of the second period.

Two Manning penalties were sent between the posts before he was sent to replace Stringer in the sin bin.

Parks added the three points from the penalty before Lineen made some inspired changes to the Glasgow line-up.

Mark McMillan and Ruaridh Jackson replaced Cusiter and Parks at half-backs and both made an immediate impact.

Fullback Bernardo Stortoni received a Munster kick-ahead and sparked a spectacular counter attack.

McMillan released Jackson who sent a perfect pass out to Graeme Morrison. Morrison took the ball forward at pace and found Jackson who scored despite having so much still to do. He finished the job in style, but unfortunately dislocated his shoulder.

Jackson was then replaced by Richie Vernon. As a result, Stortoni slotted into the playmaker role and Shaw moved to fullback. The lightning flanker took his place on the wing.

McMillan managed the conversion at a very difficult angle to give the Warriors a rousing home victory.

Man of the Match: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors)

Attendance: 3,654

Glasgow Warriors: Bernardo Stortoni; Rob Dewey, Peter Murchie, Graeme Morrison, Thom Evans; Dan Parks, Chris Cusiter; Jon Welsh, Dougie Hall, Moray Low, Tim Barker, Alastair Kellock CAPTAIN, Kelly Brown, John Barclay, Johnnie Beattie
Substitutes: Pat MacArthur, Kevin Tkachuk, Dan Turner, Richie Vernon, Mark McMillan, Ruaridh Jackson, Colin Shaw

Munster: Felix Jones; Doug Howlett, Tom Gleeson, Lifeimi Mafi, Denis Hurley; Jeremy Manning, Peter Stringer; Marcus Horan, Denis Fogarty, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Donnacha Ryan, Billy Holland, Niall Ronan, Denis Leamy
Substitutes: Damien Varley, Julien Brugnaut, Tommy O'Donnell, James Coughlan, Toby Morland, Scott Deasy, Barry Murphy

Referee: James Jones (WRU)