Glasgow 22 Leinster 19:A MISSED drop goal on full-time by outhalf Isa Nacewa gave Glasgow victory in a match dominated by Leinster in the first half but conceded to a home side that grew in confidence after the break.

But new coach Joe Schmidt can take much from the performance of a side missing their experienced core of players. Impressive last night at Firhill was flanker Dominic Ryan and there was confirmation from Ireland scrumhalf Isaac Boss his acquisition from Ulster has been a useful transfer.

Both sides eased themselves into the game and after five minutes it was 3-3, with a penalty apiece from Fergus McFadden and Ruaridh Jackson.

Leinster turned up the heat with impressive handling rugby that created scoring chances, first for Shane Horgan and then Seán O’Brien.

Then when Jamie Heaslip and Boss combined, a try again beckoned. Again there was no touchdown but this time Leinster were rewarded with a penalty and a second success from McFadden.

With the first quarter coming to its end, flanker Ryan seemingly claimed the game’s first try from Heaslip’s pass only for referee Tim Hayes to call a forward pass.

Against the run of play Glasgow levelled the scores with a second Jackson penalty but the home side were immediately rocked by a try from an overthrow at their own line-out that went to Heaslip, whose carefully judged pass gave Ryan a 45-metre run to the line for an unconverted try.

Six minutes before the break Leinster increased their lead with a farcical try that stemmed from Glasgow’s poor control of the ball at the set scrum allowing Boss and Heaslip to attack. When the ball was kicked forward it rebounded behind the Glasgow try-line and in the midst of the home side’s confusion, Boss kept his eye on the ball to touch down, giving Leinster a 16-6 interval advantage.

Leinster’s lead was reduced by a Jackson penalty while replacement John Fogarty was in the sin bin after only one minute on the field. Glasgow began to build a winning momentum that converted into points with a try in the corner by DTH Van Der Merwe.

Teenage outhalf Duncan Weir, who had just come on to the field as a sub, put over the touchline conversion to level the scores before giving Glasgow the lead for the first time with a drop goal.

Almost immediately Nacewa, taking over the goal-kicking duties from McFadden who had been replaced, brought the scores level again with a penalty goal. But four minutes before full-time Weir kicked a penalty goal to regain the lead for Glasgow. Leinster tried desperately to hit back and looked set to draw when Nacewa attempted his drop goal. The ball drifted wide of the right upright.

GLASGOW WARRIORS: B Stortoni; DTH Van Der Merwe, M Evans, G Morrison, F Aramburu, R Jackson, H Pyrgos; J Welsh, F Thomson, M Low, T Ryder, R Gray, R Wilson, C Forrester, R Vernon. Replacements: A Muldowney for Ryder (6 mins), R Grant for Welsh (40 mins), R Harley for Wilson (50 mins), P McArthur for Thomson (58 mins), D Weir for Jackson (65 mins), H O’Hare for Aramburu (71 mins)

LEINSTER: L Fitzgerald; S Horgan, E O’Malley, F McFadden, N Morris; I Nacewa, I Boss; H Van Der Merwe, R Strauss, S Shawe, N Hines, E O’Donaghue, D Ryan, S O’Brien, J Heaslip. Replacements: B Prescott for Shawe (46 mins), J Fogarty for Strauss 948 mins), I Madigan for Horgan (54 mins), S Keogh for Heaslip (64 mins), E Sheridan for McFadden (69 mins).

Referee: T Hayes (WRU)