Thu 17 Nov 2011 | 03:52
Richie Gray ruins Stephen Donald debut with match winning try

18
Comments

It was a weekend of amazing finishes as Glasgow Warriors weren't be be outdone by Munster's herois at Thomond Park, as they came from behind to claim a dramatic 26-21 win over Bath at Firhill Stadium in Glasgow. 

Bath's Kiwi import Stephen Donald, fresh from winning the World Cup with the All Blacks, came on as a replacement and looked to have won the match with just over a minute left. His penalty kick took Bath into a two point lead, but Glasgow hadn't had their say just yet.

Outstanding Scotland second rower Richie Gray, who announced earlier in the week that he will be moving to Sale Sharks, took full advantage of a charge down on an attempted drop goal and charged over thanks to a favourable bounce that left Bath's Nick Abendanon with no chance.

"I'm delighted for Richie, a great try," said Warriors head coach Sean Lineen. "The drop goal was quite far away and it was a fortuitous bounce but I think Bath had been offside about four phases in a row and they got away with murder there. The guys never gave up."

Duncan Weir's attempted match winning drop kick resulted in a winning try for Gray, who was onside despite being in front of the kicker, thanks to the touch from a Bath hand.

"Duncan went for the drop goal, I saw there was a touch on it and it was the bounce of a rugby ball. Right place at the right time. The main focus was to give everything in a Warriors shirt while I'm still here. That is the focus for me and that's the way I'll always be," said Gray.

Below is video that includes Donald's kick, then the drama of the final few minutes.

18 Comments

  • pretzel
    6:39 PM 19/11/2011

    LOL, that would be amusing!

  • cheyanqui
    5:32 PM 19/11/2011

    agreed -- funny how when players publicly sledge referees, they sometimes get sentenced to doing a referee's course (Samoan F-Sapolu comes to recent mind).

    How about the next time a referee ruins a front row contest, they get sentenced to attending a front row clinic ;)

  • pretzel
    6:04 PM 18/11/2011

    Sigh, Amen to that, I am not a front row player so I can't begin to get it, but I wish there was more teaching going on to the referee's.... maybe referees should have to do a training session in each position and be subjected to each difficulty/event/task to pass as a referee...

  • scrumguru
    6:02 PM 18/11/2011

    I freely admit I am a Bath fan, and props must go to Glasgow and Gray, but not sure that Abendanon couldn't have done something about that, or at least made more of an effort to secure the ball. Difficult bounce yes, but I would have expected more from him.

    Also, you heard it here first- Tom Heathcote, the 10 Donald replaced, is a future international. Played very well for a 19 year old throughout the season thus far, but saw him on his debut earlier in the season; he played 40 mins against Leicester, and never put a foot wrong.

  • ianm
    2:47 PM 18/11/2011

    Terrible (assistant) refereeing for the first penalty there. It was for collapsing/not binding by the Glasgow tighthead, but there was only one reason that that happened - the Bath loosehead bound onto the Gasgow TH's arm and there was no chance of the Glasgow player getting a bind after that. Once again referees have no idea how to ref the scrum.

  • 8:20 AM 18/11/2011

    I'm sorry, could you repeat that again? I didn't quite catch it the first couple times ;)

    Despite the gratification in seeing Donald do well elsewhere (when he was pretty much dismissed back in NZ), this was a satisfying try. Friggin' Heineken Cup. The only time of the year NH rugby really shines. It's games like this that make it such a great tournament. Plus, it's always good to see a Scottish side come up on top. Doesn't happen often enough.

  • katman
    7:51 AM 18/11/2011

    Richie Gray seemed to enjoy that a bit. Good on him.

  • buzzkillington
    7:14 AM 18/11/2011

    I think Ehtch's psychiatric home have just started a new internet program

  • huk123
    11:58 PM 17/11/2011

    i only though those bounce happen to my team!

  • iamaj8
    9:40 PM 17/11/2011

    No worries Centre, it seems as though Mr Anonymous' comments have been removed now anyway. Loving life

  • rugbydump
    8:48 PM 17/11/2011

    Duncan Weir's attempted match winning drop kick resulted in a winning try for Gray, who was onside despite being in front of the kicker, thanks to the touch from a Bath hand.

  • centre
    7:27 PM 17/11/2011

    Haha, well it seems that we have all been a victim of the timing of posts ! My apologies iamj8 ... AND for my answer re offside having been answered about 6 times by the time I had written it ...

  • centre
    7:24 PM 17/11/2011

    Well iamaj8 I know what you're getting at (moaning about decisions can be boring), however reffing and the rules etc are a rather important part of rugby, and do lend themselves to discussion on a site like this to be fair!

    However, in this case, doesn't the fact that the kick hits a Bath player render anyone in front of the kick onside as play enters a new phase as it were. In that case there is nothing wrong with the refereeing decision. Correct me if I'm wrong!

  • welshosprey
    7:20 PM 17/11/2011

    *doesn't apply

  • welshosprey
    7:19 PM 17/11/2011

    Somebody charged the kick down so the offside rule apply.
    If he didn't charge it down/touched it in flight then gray would of been a mile offside.

  • iamaj8
    7:17 PM 17/11/2011

    Just to confirm, this was not directed at you goodNumber10, it was to the anonymous above you.
    But to answer you question, the ball was touched in a half charge down so therefore played him onside

  • iamaj8
    7:13 PM 17/11/2011

    Grow up? ^
    Talk about the rugby, that's what this site is for.

    Unlucky Bath who perhaps you could argue deserved to win, but ultimately Gray was in the right place at the right time to grab the win and did well to take advantage of the half charge down. Well done Glasgow

  • goodnumber10
    7:11 PM 17/11/2011

    How is Gray who is 10 metres in front of the kicker, at the breakdown, not deemed offside?

    No attempt to retreat, no one puts him on side, encroaches 10 of the catcher.

    Awful reffing........