Glasgow Warriors clinch URC top spot after late team change and Ulster scare

They will now have to wait until Saturday to discover their opponents in the play-off quarter-finals, but it is likely to be either the losers from the Munster-Lions game or Ulster, again.

Glasgow’s lofty status at the URC summit means they will host the last-eight tie at Scotstoun, probably on May 29. If they win that, the semi-final would be staged at Murrayfield. And if they are going to go all the way to the final, as they did in 2024, it remains to be seen where the match will be played as Murrayfield is out of action due to concerts and no other Scottish ground is available.

The Warriors had Kyle Rowe to thank for a late, match-winning try which gave them a bonus point and put them back in front after Ulster had rallied in the second half.

It was gritty rather than glitzy for Franco Smith’s side who had to overcome the loss of Nathan McBeth and Josh McKay to yellow cards and Gregor Brown to injury. Brown has only just returned from a hamstring problem but was seen in a medical boot at full-time.

Glasgow lacked accuracy at times but they hung in there and finished strongly. They had led 21-12 at half-time thanks to tries from Stafford McDowall, McBeth and George Horne but Ulster came battling back and were leading 22-21 going into the final five minutes before Rowe’s decisive score. Even then, they had to wait for a TMO check.

Jack Dempsey wasn’t supposed to be playing, with Smith hoping to keep him fresh for the play-offs, but an injury to Matt Fagerson forced the Glasgow coach into a late team change. There was another worrying sight for Warriors supporters in the early minutes when Horne needed treatment. He was able to continue, albeit a little gingerly.

McDowall got the ball rolling for Glasgow in the eighth minute and it was a fine team try as the visitors patiently moved the ball from one end to the other. Sione Tuipulotu had a couple of big carries and then played in his centre partner who ran a perfect line to score.

After that, the game was disrupted. Alex Samuel needed treatment, his second-row partner Brown then had to go off and so too did Ulster’s Rob Herring. Glasgow seemed affected by the disruptions, conceding a couple of tries and losing McBeth to a yellow card.

Zac Ward got Ulster off the mark when he picked the ball off the floor, stepped inside Steyn and accelerated to the line. McBeth went to the bin soon after, catching Bryn Ward high with his shoulder from an upright position.

Frustration was starting to creep in and, from a promising position, Dan Lancaster threw a long floated pass, intended for Rowe. The winger never got it because Zac Ward intercepted it and ran the length of the field to score his second try. Jake Flannery’s conversion made it 12-7 to the home side.

The score galvanised Glasgow and they scored two tries in the minutes before half-time to seize back control. McBeth atoned for his earlier error by forcing his way over from close range after Rowe had been held up. And then Horne showed sleight of hand as he shaped to pass, pivoted and got in under the posts. The scrum-half’s successful conversions meant it was 21-12 to the visitors at the break.

McKay became the second Glasgow player to be yellow-carded but the full-back could consider himself unlucky. His head made contact with Tom Stewart's but there was little else McKay could have done.

It was turning into a towsy affair and referee Gianluca Gnecchi was certainly earning his corn. There was more perspiration than inspiration on display but, in the midst of it, Michael Lowry showed a bit of quality for the hosts with a nicely judged chip deep into Glasgow territory. It drew in the defenders and substitute Ethan McIlroy had the pace to finish in the corner. Nathan Doak’s conversion attempt struck the upright but Glasgow’s lead had been cut to four points with 20 minutes remaining.

The score lifted the home crowd and Ulster retook the lead when Doak and McIlroy combined to good effect. McIlroy did brilliantly to keep Doak’s kick in play and Jack Murphy was able to finish.

But Glasgow are nothing if not thrawn and Rowe had the final say, taking Euan Ferrie’s pass to score in the corner. There had been a suggestion that Sione Vailanu had blocked Murphy in the build-up but a TMO checked cleared it and the Warriors were able to see out the final minutes.

Match details

Scorers: Ulster: Tries: Z Ward 2, McIlroy, Murphy, Con: Flannery.

Glasgow Warriors: Tries: McDowall, McBeth, Horne, Rowe. Cons: Horne 3.

Yellow cards: N McBeth (Glasgow, 21min), J McKay (Glasgow, 45min)

Ulster: M Lowry; W Kok (E McIlroy 41), J Hume, W De Klerk (J Murphy 52), Z Ward; J Flannery, C McKee (N Doak 45); S Crean (A Bell 41), R Herring (T Stewart 15), T O’Toole (S Wilson 52), H Sheridan (C Izuchukwu 41), C Irvine (L McLoughlin 56), J Hopes, N Timoney, B Ward.

Glasgow Warriors: J McKay; K Steyn (R Sutherland 25-31; O Smith 61)), S McDowall, S Tuipulotu (Ben Afshar 72), K Rowe; D Lancaster, G Horne; N McBeth (Sutherland 50), J Matthews (G Hiddleston 50), Z Fagerson (S Talakai 50), G Brown (E Ferrie 19), A Samuel, A Miller, M Duncan (Oguntibeju 72), J Dempsey (S Vailanu 52).

Referee: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR).