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Scotland pair star in big win for Glasgow at Connacht
By PA
Rufus McLean and Kyle Steyn both touched down twice in Glasgow’s runaway 42-20 United Rugby Championship win over Connacht at the Sportsground.
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Chasing their third straight league victory, Warriors led 17-10 at half-time thanks to tries from McLean, Steyn and co-captain Fraser Brown.
Connacht hit back through Sam Arnold during Richie Gray’s sin-binning, and a Paul Boyle try drew them level in the 43rd minute.
Connacht’s debutant fly-half Cathal Forde kicked 10 points, but McLean and Steyn struck again on the hour mark and replacement Johnny Matthews rounded off the six-try success late on.
Glasgow’s attack and backs coach Nigel Carolan, who joined from Connacht last summer, would have been pleased with the visitors’ early sharpness, which led to a second-minute try.
Their ability to get over the gain line saw winger McLean cross in the left corner, via a George Horne pass.
Facing into the wind, Glasgow lost the momentum when lock Gray was binned for a dangerous clear-out on Ultan Dillane.
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A fine 50:22 kick from Tiernan O’Halloran, on his 200th appearance, got Connacht into range and Forde’s short pass sent Arnold over for a seven-pointer.
Warriors ended the opening quarter with a 12-7 lead, Steyn shrugging off Tom Farrell’s attempted tackle to score after good work from Sione Tuipulotu.
While Connacht’s line-out was misfiring, a well-executed maul sent Brown over for a try, five minutes before the break.
Forde snuck in a late penalty to close the gap to seven points, and with Oisin Dowling providing an impact off the bench, Connacht were much improved on the resumption.
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Number eight Boyle burrowed over for Forde to kick Connacht level, and then Forde cancelled out a Duncan Weir penalty with his second of the contest.
Boyle’s binning for going off his feet had the hosts under pressure, though, and Weir looped a pass out for McLean to notch the bonus point in the corner.
Weir then converted Steyn’s second score, the South African-born centre capitalising on a partially-blocked kick.
A disappointing Connacht side had little left in the tank, leaving Weir to tag on a penalty and convert Matthews’ 80th-minute maul try.
