Glasgow Warriors - Season 2008/09

Season 2008/09

The build up to this season was much more modest, with Coach Sean Lineen opting to sign local youngsters where possible instead of expensive foreign imports who hadn't done a job the season before. The league campaign started with a trip to bogey side Newport and for the second time in a row, Glasgow triumphed in atrocious conditions. They would not fare so well a month later however when their European Cup campaign also opened at the Welsh club. Meanwhile a home defeat to the Ospreys second string and away to Connacht, before trouncing the Scarlets with 5 tries at Firhill set the tone for the season – mixed.

Very mixed. Indeed the week after the aforementioned trip to Newport in the Cup, Toulouse arrived at Firhill and were to be outplayed for the opening 40 minutes – but a second's lapse in concentration saw Toulouse take the lead with a try just before half time. After the break another 2 soft tries before being giften one of their own meant their European Campaign was over before it had begun.

The mixed form then continued with a 28 to nil victory over Cardiff, but defeat in the re-opening of Thomond Park. Then came the first of 2 games, the season will be remembered for. Glasgow traveled to Bath's famous Recreation Ground knowing they were as good as out of the competition, while Bath were still in the hunt for qualification. 20 year-old Ruaridh Jackson was given his first start, and Glasgow raced ahead in the opening moments. A Thom Evans hat-trick, along with a Hefin O'Hare try and a fantastic interception try from young Jackson was not enough to pip Bath – the home side scoring 4 tries of their own to win 35–31 in what pundits said was "the best game of the competition so far".

Then came back to back derbies, with the first leg at Murrayfield attracting another record crowd of 12,500. Unfortunately Glasgow didn't turn up and Edinburgh strolled in 4 tries to put one hand on the 1872 Cup. In the return leg, a Glasgow record of 6,665 packed into Firhill to watch Glasgow hold to clinch a 25–20 win, thanks to a Graeme Morrison try, and 20 points from the boot of Dan Parks. In what was now becoming typical fashion though, Glasgow followed it up with a home defeat to Newport.

But Glasgow bounced back from that defeat in style. They traveled to France to face Toulouse knowing they were out the competition, but Toulouse were very much alive in the competition they have won more times than any other team. They would be facing them in a country Glasgow had never won a HC game in, in a stadium that no away team had won at since the Scarlets, 25 months previously and against a team that had only lost twice all season. Glasgow opened the scoring with a Parks penalty near halfway, that was cancelled out moments later. But then the game came to life – Max Evans chipped a ball down the left side, and while brother Thom was hasselling the Toulouse defender, Morrison grounded the ball over the line before Parks converted to the sound of jeers from the French crowd. Then Max Evans again chipped the ball down the left side, and this time was collected by Thom, and some great hands saw it go from him to John Barclay who sent Kelly Brown over for the score – and in doing so brought the Stade Ernest-Wallon to its feet. Parks then converted and added a drop goal to lead 26–6 at half time.

In the second half Max Evans then created his own try to extend Glasgow's lead to 33–9, before a brave fightback saw Toulouse score 2 tries (1 a penalty try) in the final 10 minutes to come back to 33–23, but with the clock ticking down they were then forced to accept the bonus point by kicking a penalty. FT: Toulouse 26–33 Glasgow Warriors.

Glasgow followed that up with a hard fought win over Newport at Firhill to finish third in the group, but then fell twice during the 6 Nations – away to both Cardiff and Ulster. Then Munster became the 5th team to triumph at Firhill, but Glasgow got back on track the following week putting 6 tries past the Scarlets away, before losing at home to Ulster: missing a last minute penalty in the process.