Glasgow Warriors secure victory against Ayrshire Bulls in pre-season friendly in Inverness

Glasgow Warriors 22

Ayrshire Bulls 17

Glasgow Warriors warmed up for the new United Rugby Championship season with a narrow victory over Ayrshire Bulls in a pre-season friendly at the Caledonian Stadium in Inverness.

An attendance of 3078 were in the ground to watch the Warriors take on the Super6 semi professional champions who stepped in at the last minute to ensure the event could go ahead.

The pre-season friendly was in doubt earlier this week when English Premiership outfit Worcester Warriors pulled out of the game due to financial problems.

But Ayrshire Bulls agreed to step in at the last minute to the delight of thousands of rugby fans in attendance tonight.

The first score of the evening didn't take place until the 23rd minute after a maul powered over the line with Jonny Matthews the man credited with the try.

Ayr responded well and won a penalty five minutes from time as Richie Simpson converted from 30 metres out.

But Glasgow responded instantly when Cole Forbes sliced through the middle, before finding George Horne on the shoulder to crash over the try line to give them a nine point advantage at half time.

Glasgow increased their lead with an unconverted try three minutes into the second half through Fraser Brown when a rolling drive from a few metres out saw him crash over the line.

It was a similar try just before the hour mark, when another rolling drive close to the try line saw Jack Dempsey add another five points.

Ayrshire Bulls reduced the deficit to 12 points shortly after the hour mark with Jamie Drummond driving over and Will Hunt scoring the conversion.

Hunt then scored his own try and converted three minutes from time to set up a tense finish.

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