Miserable weekend for SA sides as Lions also crash out

On Saturday, both the Stormers and Sharks crashed out of the Heineken Champions Cup after being outplayed by the Exeter Chiefs and Toulouse respectively.

To complete a poor weekend for South African sides, the Glasgow Warriors then clinched a first ever EPCR semi-final as they triumphed 31-21 over the Lions in the EPCR Challenge Cup at Scotstoun Stadium on Saturday night.

Jack Dempsey, Jamie Dobie, Zander Fagerson and Tom Jordan crossed for the Scottish region, with George Horne contributing 11 points from the tee.

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Lions were on top for large spells but struggled to make their pressure count, Sanele Nohamba, Francke Horn and Morne Brandon crossing for the South African outfit as their debut EPCR campaign came to an end.

Glasgow were in charge early on and opened the scoring on nine minutes as No.8 Dempsey crashed over courtesy of a slick lineout move.

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The hosts’ second score was equally well-worked, with centre Huw Jones and full-back Ollie Smith producing some brilliant, fast hands to release wing Dobie down the left.

Lions grew into the game over the remainder of the first half but failed to convert their pressure and territory into points – scrum-half Nohamba saw a score ruled out for a double movement deep into overtime.

The Lions’ second half fight back was a mere consolation

But Nohamba wasn’t to be denied at the start of the second half – more Lions pressure culminated in a penalty five metres out, which he took quickly before shooting over the whitewash.

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Glasgow hit back on 48 minutes, though, as prop Fagerson crossed from close range and their robust defence looked set to close the game out, with Emirates Lions lacking a clinical edge.

However, the travelling outfit finally notched a second try on 64 minutes courtesy of a superb finish from No.8 Horn, setting up a tense final quarter of an hour.

But a Horne penalty and a try from replacement back Jordan on 73 minutes widened the margin further, with a score from Emirates Lions replacement hooker Brandon coming too little too late.

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Points scorers

Glasgow 31 (14) 

Tries: Jack Dempsey, Jamie Dobie, Zander Fagerson, Tom Jordan

Conversions: George Horne (3)

Penalty: Horne

Lions 21 (0)

Tries: Sanele Nohamba, Francke Horn, Morne Brandon

Conversions: Nohamba, Gianni Lombard (2)