Glasgow blow advantage in heavy Heineken Cup loss at Biarritz

STV
Glasgow Warriors: miss out on two point interval advantage over hosts Biarritz.

Glasgow Warriors blew a two point interval advantage in their closing Heineken Cup game as they were taken apart by a 30-point salvo in the second half by hosts Biarritz at the Parc des Sports Aguilera, losing 41-20.

The French club had already qualified for the knockout stages of the competition but the win means they move ahead of Clermont in the seedings for the next round

But they were made to work by a much-changed Glasgow side who led the match 20-11 with half an hour to play, only for their hosts to rally with an impressive comeback.

With Biarritz three points up early on, the Warriors’ kicking game paid off with a try with just 12 minutes on the clock. Chris Cusiter chipped the ball over a static backline to find Thom Evans, who outran Ilikena Bolakoro before diving across in the corner. Dan Parks then added the conversion to open a four point lead.

That lead stretched to seven 10 minutes later as Dan Parks kicked a penalty in front of the posts after Magnus Lund failed to move away from the tackle. Biarritz looked to rally immediately, but the boot of Parks added another three after Jerome Thion’s knock down.

Courrent cancelled out those three points before the French club got their first try of the afternoon three minutes before the break.

Warriors came out fighting in the second half though and were nine points ahead within 10 minutes after a try which began under their own posts. Bernando Stortoni’s catch and run found Max Evans and then Rob Dewey, who laid it on a plate for Cusiter to dive in under the posts.

Parks added the conversion points before Biarritz’s comeback began with two back-to-back penalties from Courrent.

Just 13 minutes after being nine points to the good, the visitors were seven points behind as Ngwenya passed Ruaridh Jackson with ease to turn over in the corner.

Biarritz continued to push and were awarded a penalty try that secured their home tie in the quarter finals. Bolakoro then sealed the deal in the last minute, kicking over from close range to earn his side a bonus point.