Glasgow swallowed whole by Sharks in Durban

Two tries from Tom Gordon were not enough to prevent Glasgow from slipping to a heavy 40-12 defeat to the Sharks in Durban.

Gordon scored once in each half for the Warriors, but Tom Jordan’s conversion of the first represented their only other points in the match.

Sharks winger Anthony Volmink also registered a brace, while Springbok hooker Bongi Mbonambi stepped off the bench to go over on the hour and Aphele Fassi added the bonus-point try.

Boeta Chamberlain was heavily involved for the home side and kicked 15 points while also providing the cross-kick that teed up Werner Kok to add some late gloss.

The Sharks handed debuts to World Cup winner Eben Etzebeth and fellow close-season arrival Vincent Tshituka, while their star-studded bench featured Siya Kolisi, Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi and Ox Nche.

Chamberlain kicked the hosts in front after 13 minutes, but it was Glasgow – in the absence of head coach Franco Smith due to visa delays – who claimed the game’s first try, with Gordon carving a route through the Sharks defence to touch down next to the posts. Jordan added a simple conversion before another Chamberlain penalty reduced the gap to a single point.

Jordan sent his next effort from the tee off target, but he was given something of a let-off when Chamberlain was similarly wasteful from his next attempt.

Chamberlain atoned for his miss when he exploited a gap in the Glasgow defence before setting up Volmink to go over and adding the extras.

Gordon emerged from a maul to touch down early in the second half, but Jordan was again wayward with the follow-up.

Kolisi and Mbonambi were among a group of replacements sent on after 50 minutes and the Sharks immediately re-established a cushion, showing fantastic hands to get the ball out to Volmink, who raced down the left wing to score.

Chamberlain – again involved in the build-up – failed with the conversion but added a subsequent penalty to make it 21-12 to the hosts.

Mbonambi then touched down at the back of a driving maul before Fassi went over to wrap up the bonus point, with Chamberlain converting both.

Chamberlain capped a strong individual performance by finding Kok with a cross-kick for a late try, although the conversion bounced back off a post.