The Glasgow Warriors scored four tries to one of the Vodacom Bulls to secure a 25-21 win, qualifying for a quarter-final in the 2026 Investec Champions Cup.
Despite “dominating” the early exchanges, the Bulls remained scoreless until Handre Pollard converted a penalty to secure the Bulls a 03-00 lead after twelve minutes of play in the first half.
Glasgow absorbed the early pressure and after eighteen minutes of play, lock Max Williamson bulldozed his way past and over defenders to score the first try of the match. Dan Lancaster converted the try for Glasgow to lead 07-03.
The Bulls launched wave after wave of attacks, and Johann Grobbelaar scored in the corner following a brilliant offload by Dacid Kriel to retake the lead 08-07 after twenty-six minutes of play in the first half.
With ten minutes to play, the Bulls were rewarded a penalty for their efforts, and Handre Pollard converted to extend the Bulls' lead to 11-07.
Glasgow struck back immediately off the back of a five-meter lineout-maul when Jack Dempsey crashed over to lead 12-11.
Handre Pollard converted a third penalty with time almost up on the clock. The Bulls led 14-12 at the halftime break.
Several penalties against the Bulls resulted in Glasgow attacking off a lineout-maul, and following wave after wave of attacks, Glasgow took a quick tap from a penalty, and Patrick Schickerling scored in the corner to retake the lead 17-14 and twenty-four minutes still to play in the second half.
Glasgow set up camp in the Bulls' red zone until Stafford McDowall crashed over in the corner, to extend Glasgow’s lead to 22-14 with seven minutes still to play in the second half.
With three minutes to play in the second half, Marco van Staden bulldozed his way over the tryline to cut Glasgow’s lead to 22-21.
However, Glasgow attacked from the kick-off, and Adam Hastings converted a penalty to secure a 25-21 win.
Scorers:
Glasgow Warriors: Tries: Max Williamson, Jack Dempsey, Patrick Schickerling, Stafford McDowall. Conversions: Dan Lancaster. Penalty: Adam Hastings.
Vodacom Bulls: Try: Johann Grobbelaar. Penalties: Handre Pollard (3).
Teams:
Glasgow Warriors: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Kyle Steyn (c), 13 Stafford McDowall, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Ollie Smith, 10 Dan Lancaster, 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Patrick Schickerling. Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Olujare Oguntibeju, 20 Euan Ferrie, 21 Angus Fraser, 22 Ben Afshar, 23 Adam Hastings.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Cheswill Jooste, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marcell Coetzee (c), 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp. Replacements: 16 Marco van Staden, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Cobus Wiese, 20 Jeandre Rudolph, 21 Zak Burger, 22 Stedman Gans, 23 Willie le Roux.