PRO 12 FINAL DAY RESULTS
GLASGOW 32-10 ULSTER
RUSSELL DOUBLE
OUTCLASSES ULSTER
Glasgow ran in four second-half tries to secure the
bonus-point required for top spot and a Pro12 home semi-final against
vanquished opponents Ulster.
The visitors looked like the team chasing a bonus point as
they repeatedly kicked to touch from penalties and it was fourth time lucky as
Henry bulldozed his way through, with Ian Humphreys adding the extras.
he hosts' pace immediately quickened and Hogg gathered a
long, looping pass to race away and collect his own perfectly weighted kick as
he scored in the corner, with Russell unable to land a difficult conversion.
A few minutes later, Russell was knocking over a much easier
kick, having shown great strength to go through two tackles and plant the ball
down near the posts.
With Ulster starting to wilt, Andrew Warwick was sent to the
sin bin and Gray powered his way into the scoring zone only to be prevented
from grounding by a cluster of defenders in white.
Tommy Seymour was then well placed to reach the corner only
for Pyrgos to throw a wild pass behind the winger and into touch.
Glasgow were now camped in the Ulster 22 and a lovely dummy
created a gap for Russell to dart through for his second try, with his second
conversion following.
The crowd were now roaring their support and the noise was
deafening when Vernon broke a weak tackle 30 metres out. The
flanker-turned-centre had the speed to get home and, with the crucial bonus
point secured, Russell was in no hurry to knock over the extras.
MUNSTER 50-27 DRAGONS
MURRY HAT TRICK
MEANS MUNSTER ARE ON A DIFFERENT
Munster ran riot with eight tries against the Dragons to set
up a home Pro12 semi-final against the Ospreys.
Conor Murray scored two of his three tries in the first half
with Andrew Smith, CJ Stander and Paul O'Connell putting Munster 33-10 ahead
the break.
Ashton Hewitt had Dragons only first-half try with Tyler
Morgan, Rhys Buckley and Jack Dixon also crossing.
Keith Earls and Ronan O'Mahony added second-half tries as
Munster secured a vital home semi-final at Thomond Park.
Munster started the final round of games in third place but
secured a top-two position with a flurry of early tries.
They had the bonus point wrapped up after 23 minutes when
Conor Murray scored from close-range for his second, and Munster's fourth, try.
EDINBURGH 23-26
LEINSTER
4 TRY LEINSTER SHOW
TOP CLASS
Edinburgh's flickering hopes of staying in European
Champions Cup contention were extinguished by Leinster.
Last year's champions led 17-10 at half-time with Noel Reid
and Jack Conan scoring either side of Hamish Watson's impressive try for
Edinburgh.
Zane Kirchner extended Leinster's lead before Tim Visser's
score and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne kicked the hosts ahead.
But tries from Jordi Murphy and Luke McGrath, allied with
solid Ian Madigan kicking, meant the Irishmen prevailed.
CONNACHT 20-24 OSPREYS
3 TRY OSPREYS BEAT
DIFFICULT CONACHT
Ospreys had a strong wind advantage at the Sportsground in
their favour in the first half and Biggar opened the scoring with a fifth
minute penalty before converting his own try after 16 minutes.
He crossed under the posts after the Connacht scrum
collapsed and Ben John picked a great line to send Biggar over for an easy
score.
John found some great running angles to punch holes in
Connacht midfield and added their second try after 25 minutes with Rhys Webb
adding a third try two minutes later.
Wing Eli Walker though he had grabbed the precious bonus
point for Ospreys just before half time after being released by Webb, but on
review the try was ruled out as he had lost control of the ball when diving for
the line.
Connacht came back strongly in the second half with the wind
at their backs with two Jack Carty penalties finally getting the home side on
the scoreboard.
After going through a series of attacking lineouts, Eoghan
Masterson was shunted over the line for Connacht first try and Denis Buckley
added a second in stoppage time, but it wasn't enough to push Connacht into the
top six.
BLUES 29-5 ZEBRE
2 CUTHBERT TRIES
ENSURES BLUES BONUS POINT WIN
Alex Cuthbert opened the scoring on 29 minutes, before lock
Marco Bortolami was sent to the sin bin for the Italians.
Within 60 seconds prop Gethin Jenkins powered over for
Blues, Rhys Patchell converting.
After the break Cuthbert, Patchell and Garyn Smith crossed
for Blues with Valerio Bernabo scoring for Zebre.
But, after frustrating the hosts for the majority of the
first-half the deadlock was finally broken when Blues full back Alex Summerhill
fed Cuthbert to dive over in the corner, Patchell missing the conversion.
Five minutes later Zebre captain Bortolami was shown the
yellow card for coming in at the side of a ruck.
Cardiff immediately capitalised with Jenkins peeling away
from a drive from an attacking line out to score, with Patchell adding the
extras.
After the restart Cuthbert rode a challenge before touching
down for his second for an unconverted try.
Patchell made amends for missing that kick by later
converting his own try to seal a bonus point for Blues.
Zebre, the lowest try scorers in the Pro12 this season,
scored a consolation through Bernabo, but fly-half Luciano Orquera failed to
convert.
TREVISO 13-17 SCARLETS
PRIESTLAND BOOT
ENSURES SCARLETS WIN
The opening 10 minutes was played mainly between the two 22s
before the home side broke the deadlock with the afternoon's first try.
Hooker Giazzon drove over from an attacking line out but
full-back Hayward failed to convert.
Matthew Luamanu came close to adding a second try after
outrunning the Scarlets but Liam Williams and Hadley Parkes denied the number
eight inches short of the try line.
Hayward added three points to Treviso's tally with a penalty
from straight in front of the posts before Priestland secured Scarlets' first
points of the afternoon with a penalty.
Treviso extended their lead with a second try after Hayward
intercepted Adam Warren's pass and ran half the length of the pitch to score in
the corner.
The New Zealander failed to convert his own try but his side
went into the break firmly in control and leading 13-3.
Henry Seniloli should have scored a third try for the hosts
but after some showboating by the scrum-half he was tackled by Scott Williams
before he could place the ball down
But with Treviso beginning to tire in the second half,
Scarlets stepped up the pressure and they were rewarded with their first try on
61 minutes.
Full-back Liam Williams skipped through the Treviso defence
to score underneath the posts and Priestland added the extras to cut the
deficit to three points.
They were ahead for the first time in the game when wing
Evans crossed over in the corner and Priestland's conversion
RESULTS OF ACTION CHAMPIONS
CUP
Connacht will go into a playoff against Gloster for a
European Champions cup spot but could not catch the Scarlet’s in 6th
spot for automatic qualification
Treviso will get a European Champions cup spot over Zebre.
If Zebre had won they would have reached the European champions cup next season
PLAY OFF SEMIS
Glasgow will play Ulster in Glasgow maybe Ulster should stay
in Glasgow for the week
That leaves Munster to play Ospreys
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