Glasgow Warriors 22 - 23 Sale Sharks

James Gaskell was skipper agains as a try six minutes from time by young winger Tom Brady sealed a one-point win for Sale Sharks at Firhill in a lively pre-season encounter which saw the referee issuing three yellow cards.

All the early danger came from the Warriors, with left winger Aramburu prominent. Sharks were only able to enter the home 22 once in the first 25 minutes, and had to watch the home side score two tries in that period. A turnover after 12 minutes led to Ryan Grant registering the first score and, though Nick Macleod reduced the arrears with a 20th minute penalty, the pressure told again four minutes later when Swindall made a strong charge and Max Evans crossed for try two. Cohen and Williams showed all their experience in defence before the first of two mass changes of personnel by the visitors on the half hour.

It was Paul Williams, on the right wing who produced an exquisite moment to lay on a try for the supporting Andy Tuilagi with 32 minutes gone. Two minutes later, luck went the Sharks' way when a chip ahead from Miller bounced favourably for Jack Forster, on his return from a shoulder injury, to charge through and score. Nick Macleod added the conversion. After 36 minutes, a high challenge by Ormsby sparked off an energetic 'free for all', leading to Tuilagi being shown a yellow card apparently for swinging an arm in the melee. Half time came four minutes later with the Sharks 15-10 ahead.

After the restart, Sharks found themselves in opposition to one of their own, scrum half Will Cliff, who is on a short loan period with Glasgow. After his former team mates had lost a lineout, he passed the ball to Swindall, who found lock Gray out wide left for the Warriors' third try. Weir converted. Macleod missed a penalty before Glasgow scrum half Pyrgos was the second recipient of a yellow card for deliberately kicking the ball away. A great move involving Tuilagi, Williams and Lewaravu was ended by Glasgow offside, which Rob Miller penalised to put the Sharks 18-17 ahead with an hour gone.

Most of the 'orginals' came back with twenty minutes left, but Glasgow had another good spell with Neil Briggs also seeing yellow on 66 minutes. Glasgow immediately made their advantage count, despite a superb Williams tackle. The ball again found lock Richie Gray for his second try, whereupon he was substituted!

Sale Sharks finished the stronger team, inspired by the whippet that is Dwayne Peel. On 71 minutes, he dashed and wriggled 40 metres toward the home line after taking a quick blindside free kick before being held up. This saw the Sharks virtually camped on the home line. Although Koyamaibole threatened in traditional style, it was a classic winger's try by Tom Brady on the right which took the Sharks into the lead for the third and final time in the match. Andy Tuilagi was instrumental in shipping the ball out to the Urmston flyer after the forwards had battered the home defence for fully five minutes.

A strange mixture of a game, with the visitors outscored by four tries to three but just deserving the spoils. Both sides' kickers had low success rates, but the winners can thank the experience of Williams and the youth of Brady for their impact on the match.

Glasgow Warriors - Tries Grant, Evans, Gray (2). Con.Weir.
Sale Sharks - Tries Tuilagi, Forster, Brady. Con.Macleod. Pens. Macleod, Miller.

Glasgow Warriors - Bernardo Stortoni (capt); DTH van der Merwe, Max Evans, Rob Dewey,Federico Aramburu; Ruaridh Jackson, Henry Pyrgos; Ryan Grant, Fergus Thomson, Moray Low, Aly Muldowney, Richie Gray, Ryan Wilson, Chris Fusaro, Richie Vernon.
Replacements: Paul Burke, Alex Dunbar, Calum Forrester, Finlay Gillies, Rob Harley, Peter Horne, Ed Kalman, Pat MacArthur, Murray McConnell, Peter Murchie, Colin Shaw, Stevie Swindall, Kevin Tkachuk, Duncan Weir, Will Cliff.

Sale Sharks - Paul Williams, Tom Brady, Fergus Mulchrone, Nick Macleod, Ben Cohen, Matty James, Dwayne Peel, Aston Croall, Neil Briggs, Karena Wihongi, Nic Rouse, James Gaskell (capt), Carl Fearns, James Harris, Sisaro Koyamaibole.
Replacements Marc Jones, Jack Forster, Simon McIntyre, Sean Cox, Wame Lewaravu, Kristian Ormsby, David Seymour, Chris Leck, Rob Miller, Anitelea Tuilagi, Rhys Crane.

Referee Mr.Neil Paterson (SRU)