Henco Venter put in a strong display as Glasgow downed Stormers to reach the URC semi-finals. Image: © Craig Watson 
GRAEME MACPHERSON @ Scotstoun
THE feeling that Glasgow’s postseason is shaping up to be an almost mirror image of last year’s is proving increasingly tough to shake off.
A late regular season slump to fall to fourth in the table and again set up a quarter-final at home to the Stormers was one thing.
But the way this last-eight tie unfolded – very tight for a while before Warriors ran away with it in a devastating burst in the third quarter – was also eerily similar to the same tie between these teams a year ago.
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When Stormers scored their second try just three minutes into the second period, Glasgow’s lead was down to just one point. It was anyone’s game at that stage.
Franco Smith’s side, though, simply did what they did last year, running in two more scores – the second, their fifth on the night, a contender for try of the season – to finally extinguish their visitors’ threat.
Stormers had arrived full of bluster that this would be their time but they had no answer when Glasgow moved up the gears, their gameplan also undone by too many missed tackles and dropped opportunities.
Warriors’ path will likely take them back to Ireland for the semi-final – again, same as last year – but this time it will likely be Leinster rather than Munster waiting there for them, assuming the Dubliners can get past Scarlets at home tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon.
There is still a long way to go before Glasgow can even think about lifting the trophy for a second successive season but this is a performance that ought to imbue them with confidence for the challenges ahead.
Smith said: “To win the competition is one thing. To stay at the top is really another thing completely. It’s difficult but we are ready for the challenge heading into the semi-finals.
“We are not getting over-excited by anything. The mission is still to go on and try to win the semi-final next weekend. It’s a long season. Especially when you consider the Champions Cup as well, there are so many high-level matches.
‘There were a lot of positive for us. Henco Venter and Rory Darge were excellent. Scott Cummings got great minutes under his belt, Sione Tuipulotu brought a spark for us.”
A frenetic first half saw Glasgow run in three tries to Stormers’ one without managing to pull away from their visitors initially on a sunny but windy night at Scotstoun.
Stormers’ early pressure yielded only a Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu penalty that was soon overhauled by the first two Glasgow tries of the night.
The first was one straight from the training ground after Seabelo Senatla had been shown a yellow card for slowing down the restart once Kyle Steyn had been put through a hole before being hauled down just before the line.
Scott Cummings offered a dummy leap in the line-out with Gregor Hiddleston instead going short to Euan Ferrie who flicked a pass to Rory Darge to power over. It was as slick as you like.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu tried to reply with a drop goal that hit the post. Instead, it was the home side who stretched their lead with their second try of the match.
Sione Tuipulotu’s brilliant grubber kick saw the ball sit up nicely for Kyle Rowe who had anticipated the opening and was able to get the ball down.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu knocked over a penalty and then created Stormers’ first try. His free kick was high but seemed to lack the requisite distance but nobody from Glasgow competed for it allowing Senatla to grab the ball and coast over.
Glasgow, to their credit, hit back almost immediately. The returning Henco Venter – afforded a rousing reception at the end of what is likely his last home game for the club – was the man to get it, dashing down the short side after the maul had been stopped in its tracks.
Stormers were still pushing at that point and another try early in the second half – again claimed by Senatla who powered down the line to score – reduced the deficit to just one point.
It was a test of Glasgow’s mettle and they rose to the challenge, scoring two more tries to secure their safe passage through to the last four.
Rowe got the next – the team’s fourth – after Tom Jordan had burst through a gap and made a smart offload after his momentum had been halted.
Six minutes later came the try of the game. Warriors turned over a Stormers line-out and were soon on the attack, the ball flowing from Josh McKay wide to Rowe and then back inside to George Horne who collected before diving over the line.
Horne added a rare Glasgow penalty off the tee shortly after and Stormers this time had no response as Warriors eased through to another last-four tie.
Teams –
Glasgow Warriors: J McKay, K Rowe, S McDowall (A Hastings 60), S Tuipulotu, K Steyn, T Jordan, G Horne (J Dobie 69); J Bhatti (N McBeth 60), G Hiddleston (J Matthews 60), M Walker (S Talakai 33), A Samuel (M Williamson 60), S Cummings, E Ferrie (J Mann 60), R Darge, H Venter (M Duncan 72)
DHL Stormers: W Gelant, B Loader, S Hartzenberg (H Jantjies 58), D du Plessis (M Libbok 30), S Senatla, S Feinberg-Mngomezulu, S Ungerer; A Vermaak (V Matongo 50), A-H Venter (J Dweba 61), N Fouche (S Sandi 56), S Moerat (JD Schickerling 7), R van Heerden (C Evans 57), P de Villiers, M Theunissen (L Nel 64), E Roos
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Scorers –
Glasgow: Tries: Darge, Rowe 2, Venter, Horne; Cons: Horne 3; Pen: Horne
Stormers: Tries: Senatla 2; Con: Feinberg-Mngomezulu; Pens: Feinberg-Mngomezulu 2
Scoring sequence (Glasgow first): 0-3, 5-3, 7-3, 12-3, 14-3, 14-6, 14-11, 14-13, 19-13, (h-t), 19-18, 24-18, 26-18, 31-18, 33-18, 36-18
Yellow card –
Stormers: Senatla (10 mins)
Attendance: 6,867
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