Connacht no match for six-try Glasgow at the Sportsground

In recent weeks, the Connacht narrative has been their inability to close out wins.

That wasn't the case at the Sportsground today, Andy Friend's side rarely looking like they would come out on top against a far superior Glasgow Warriors.

Their 42-20 defeat is a third in a row in all competitions, one which will likely see them lose further ground on their fellow Irish sides in the United Rugby Championship, and a blow to their chances of qualification for the Heineken Champions Cup next season.

But it was a much different defeat to their recent heartbreaking losses against Leicester and Stade Francais. They will look back with huge frustration on a first half in which they conceded three tries to Glasgow, aided by the seven penalties they coughed up as they struggled to figure out the mind of referee Nic Berry.

They kept themselves in check with a Sammy Arnold try, and a conversion and penalty from 20-year-old Cathal Forde to trail 17-10 at the break.

And when Paul Boyle crashed over to level the game early in the second half it looked like they might kick on.

But the game flipped on 10 second half minutes when Boyle was sent to the sin bin as the visitors crossed for two tries to kill off the game, as Glasgow comfortably saw out a bonus point win which lifts them - for the time being at least - up to second in the table.

Connacht's squad was somewhat depleted coming into the game, with Carty, Bundee Aki, Mack Hansen, Conor Prendergast and Finlay Bealham away in Irish camp, while Conor Oliver was rested.

However, Glasgow also had plenty of absentees, among them British and Irish Lions Zander Fagerson and Ali Price.

But it was the Scottish side who made the bright start, capitalising on multiple Connacht errors.

It started when