Pre-season training: Sale Sharks 49: Glasgow 27

From GlasgowWarriors.org:

"It was a mixed bag for Glasgow Warriors in their first formal warm-up match ahead of the 2012/13 season as they interwove flashes of inspiration with moments of imprecision in going down 49-27 to Sale Sharks at Heywood Road on Saturday.

Glasgow opened up in encouraging style, fashioning a good number of early chances with their endeavour in attack to turn round only four points behind.

The balmy Cheshire heat took its toll in the second half, however, with leggy defensive work contributing to the concession of four final quarter tries to Rob Miller, David Seymour, Corne Uys and Dwayne Peel.

Consolation for Gregor Townsend's men in this period arrived in the form of opportunistic scores from the impressive Tommy Seymour and replacement Peter Horne, enjoying his first rugby since sustaining a shoulder injury in January.

Pre-season is always a process of gradual improvement, and the Warriors are well aware they will need to take it up a notch in any number of facets when they take on Exeter Chiefs at Millbrae, Ayr RFC this coming Thursday, 23 August (kick-off 7.30pm).

Warriors made a bright beginning, slick off the top lineout ball from Ryan Wilson allowing skipper Chris Fusaro to set off on the first of several sharp incursions deep into enemy territory.

The backs then got in on the act, Seymour, Byron McGuigan and Alex Dunbar all helping take the move on, before Glasgow were held up right at the very last.

True to Townsend's stated pre-match wish, the Warriors looked to inject tempo into the game at every turn, a bright tap penalty from Henry Pyrgos creating scope for flying winger Taylor Paris to showcase his gas on the left.

The scrambling Sale defence were forced to concede a penalty, which Ruaridh Jackson duly banged over to put the visitors 3-0 ahead.

The Sharks hit back immediately, former Glasgow favourite Richie Vernon crossing in the left-hand corner for the first try of the game. The Warriors' efforts to thwart their old boy weren't helped by being down to 14 men, new lock Tim Swinson having been led from the field with blood seeping from the spot on his face where he had inadvertently connected with an opposition stud on the deck.

James Eddie took his place in the second row, with Swinson later reported to be in good spirits having received a number of stitches. He is not considered a doubt for the start of the competitive season.

Glasgow continued to show enterprise in attack, the athletic Seymour and powerful Dunbar always to the fore.

The Scots finally found a way across the whitewash a few minutes before the interval, another burst from Fusaro being taken on by Gordon Reid before Peter Murchie dived over from close range.

Jackson's conversion gave Glasgow a 10-7 lead, but they couldn't hold it until half-time, Sale winger Tom Brady carving through right on the whistle.

HALF-TIME: SALE SHARKS 14-10 GLASGOW WARRIORS

The post-interval fare was distinctly less palatable for the small knot of Warriors fans who made the trip to Mark Cueto's testimonial, but with 80 minutes under their belts and the likes of Horne and James Eddie fighting fit once more, Glasgow concern will not be unduly serious at this stage.

SALE SHARKS: 15 Rob Miller; 14 Charlie Amesbury, 13 Will Addison, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Tom Brady; 10 Nick MacLeod, 9 Cillian Willis; 1 Eifion Lewis-Roberts, 2 Joe Ward, 3 Tony Buckley, 4 Fraser McKenzie, 5 James Gaskell, 6 Mark Easter, 7 David Seymour (CAPTAIN), 8 Richie Vernon

SUBSTITUTES: 16 Marc Jones, 17 Vadim Cobilas, Aston Croall, 18 Ross Harrison, 19 Richie Gray, Tom Holmes, 20 James Doyle, 21 Dwayne Peel, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Jordan Davies, Corne Uys, Charlie Ingall

GLASGOW WARRIORS: 15 Peter Murchie; 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Byron McGuigan, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Taylor Paris; 10 Ruaridh Jackson, 9 Henry Pyrgos; 1 Gordon Reid, 2 Pat MacArthur, 3 Mike Cusack, 4 Tim Swinson, 5 Nick Campbell, 6 Angus Macdonald, 7 Chris Fusaro (CAPTAIN), 8 Ryan Wilson

SUBSTITUTES (ALL USED): 16 Finlay Gillies, 17 Moray Low, 18 Ed Kalman, 19 James Eddie, 20 Adam Ashe, 21 Troy Nathan, 22 Scott Wight, 23 Peter Horne, 24 Sean Kennedy, 25 Fraser Thomson, 26 George Hunter

Tries: Murchie, Seymour, Horne

Cons: Jackson, Wight (2)

Pens: Jackson (2)"

Sounds like the second half was a bit of a horsing, although nice to see Gray and Vernon on the scoresheet.

Lovely to hear that Seymour was playing well. His pairing with Dunbar could be very important this season as it will allow Hogg to stay at 15 and more importantly, keep Morrison the length of a disinfected bargepole away from a shirt.

We really need to turn it up several notches against the Chiefs though - quite important to fit at least one win into your pre-season.

Does Dot or anyone else know whether the internationalists will be joining for the Chiefs match?

In what is the final pre-season warm-up game for both clubs, GC, I would expect to see both the Warriors and the Chiefs at full strength, or v close, for the Millbrae encounter - cant wait, will be great to see my two fave teams playing each other

Predictions please, Asbo.

42-all draw, crowd pleaser!

Everyone's a winner!

"It was a mixed bag for Glasgow Warriors in their first formal warm-up match ahead of the 2012/13 season as they interwove flashes of inspiration with moments of imprecision in going down 49-27 to Sale Sharks at Heywood Road on Saturday."


Sounds like Toonie is fashioning a team in his own image!!

He's done well to de-construct Glasgow's excellent defence in a few weeks. Talent!

Do we actually have a defence coach?

When we go up against a team with a genuine cutting edge, are the players supposed to resort to harsh language?