“I’m really happy with the win,” said Smith. “I don’t know what you call it, for us it’s just another step in our progress that we’ve been talking about for a long time. We’ve learned, obviously, from our defeats against them often. But we haven’t had them here since October 2023, so it is lopsided. When you think how many injuries we’ve had and how many other players got exposure in the game that we lost in the quarter-finals of the European Cup last year, where we’ve come from there is fantastic and it’s thanks to everybody’s contribution and effort in the club.

“I don’t know [if it’s a marker] as I’m not looking too far ahead. A lot of things can go wrong, right? Last year we were also sitting second until the last three games and we ended up being fourth. So I’m not going to get ahead of anything here.

“We’ve still got to go to South Africa, after the recent performances of the South African teams. It’s going to be a tough outing. We have the European Cup in the middle of it, a lot of expectation to bat away from the team so that we can focus on how we’re going to go about it. So that’s literally three months, four months away. For now, we just focus on Benetton, who performed well tonight against Ospreys. So that’s going to be another big challenge.”

The first try came on the counter attack midway through a first half that had simmered rather than catching fire until that point. Glasgow had set up camp in the Leinster 22 and went through phase after phase without managing to break through a resolute visiting defence.

Kyle Rowe joined the attacking line to add another body to another attack but his pass inside was telegraphed to Rieko Ioane who picked it up and then burst down the field. Josh Kenny had tracked him all the way and took the pass before dancing around Ollie Smith before grounding in the right corner.That gave Leinster the ascendancy but their ill-discipline would let them down as they lost two players to yellow cards and then shipped four tries while the sinners were stewing in the bin.

Brian Deeny was the first to be yellow-carded for a no arms tackle and he was soon joined on the sideline by Ronan Kelleher after the Ireland hooker went in too high on Stafford McDowall.Those transgressions took place just two minutes apart but there was still time for Glasgow to claim their first try inbetween. It went to Macenzzie Duncan who marked the award of his first professional contract by taking a pass from Euan Ferrie after a quick George Horne tap penalty.

Glasgow sensed the chance to take full advantage of Leinster’s two player deficiency and duly did so. The second try went the way of Gregor Hiddleston off the back of the maul, with the third arriving just three minutes later. Debutant Johnny Ventisei combined with midfield partner McDowall to send Horne sprinting clear and over the line. A fourth try arrived just four minutes later to clinch the bonus point before half-time.

It was a stunning solo effort from Rowe who burned past Jimmy O’Brien before collecting a perfect grubber kick down the line before darting inside to finish with a flourish. Leinster looked floor but back came Deeny and then Kelleher and, restored to their full complement of 15, they sent Glasgow a warning this match wasn’t over when Sam Prendergast teed up the returning Hugo Keenan to stroll over for the final action of a frenetic first half.

The third quarter was not quite as thrilling, with Leinster the team on top but Glasgow standing firm including holding up their rivals over the line in one brilliant piece of team defending. That seemed to break Leinster’s resolve and when Smith wriggled free from a clutch of white-shirted bodies to land Warriors’ fifth the contest looked done and dusted.

Ciaran Frawley did get one back eventually for Leinster after bursting through but the last word went to Horne who claimed his second try of the game, sparking a rammy that saw Adam Hastings and Rabah Slimani both yellow carded in the dying embers.

Teams –

Glasgow Warriors: J McKay, K Rowe, J Ventisei (A Hastings 61), S McDowall, O Smith (J Oliver 72), D Lancaster, G Horne; P Schickerling (R Sutherland 54), G Hiddleston (S Stephen 72), F Richardson (S Talakai 45), A Craig, A Samuel (J Oguntibeju 70), E Ferrie (A Miller 74), S Vailanu (A Fraser 45), M Duncan

Leinster: H Keenan, J Kenny (C Frawley 52, R Ioane, R Henshaw, J O’Brien, S Prendergast, L McGrath (F Gunne 66); A Usanov (J Cahir 6-16), R Kelleher (J McKee 63), T Clarkson (R Slimani 63), RG Snyman (C O’Tighearnaigh 52), B Deeny, J Conan, W Connors (S Penny 5), J Culhane (M Deegan 61)

Referee: Adam Jones (WRU)

 

Scorers –

Glasgow: Tries: Duncan, Hiddleston, Horne 2, Rowe, Smith; Cons: Horne 4

Leinster: Tries: Kenny, Keenan, Frawley; Cons: Prendergast.

Scoring sequence (Glasgow first): 0-5; 5-5; 7-5; 12-5; 17-5; 19-5; 24-5; 26-5;’ 26-10, (h-t) 31-10; 33-10; 33-15; 33-17; 38-17.

 

Yellow cards –

Glasgow Warriors:Hastings (80 mins)

Leinster: Deeny (26 mins), Kelleher (28 mins), Slimani (80 mins).

Ayr retain Arnold Clark Premiership title with play-off final victory over Currie Chieftains