Matawalu leads Glasgow clear of Ospreys

Nikola Matawalu scored a hat-trick of tries to take Glasgow Warriors further clear of nearest challengers Ospreys in the Pro14’s Conference A.

The Welsh club were just four points back before Friday’s meeting, having won five of their seven games this term, but Matawalu singlehandedly stretched Glasgow’s advantage in a 29-20 win.

Olly Cracknell crossed for the opening try for Ospreys after seven minutes, before Matawalu, who started on the bench, took control of the contest.

Two tries in the space of four minutes turned the game on its head and he had his treble nine minutes after the restart, with Nick Grigg adding another as the Warriors cruised towards victory.

Hanno Dirksen came up with a response five minutes from time, but the home side were beaten and fall nine points off the pace set by Glasgow.

Glasgow Warriors pick up all five points in Swansea! Niko Matawalu scored a hat-trick and Nick Grigg also got a try. Brandon Thomson kicked three conversions and a penalty in an impressive win on the road #WeAreWarriors pic.twitter.com/2fqc8p6R05

— Glasgow Warriors (@GlasgowWarriors) November 2, 2018

In Conference B, last year’s finalists Scarlets missed the opportunity to join defending champions Leinster at the top as they were beaten by Edinburgh.

Viliame Mata and Tom Brown each scored twice for Edinburgh in a 31-21 triumph as second-half yellow cards for either side opened space for tries to be scored.

The Scottish outfit were 17-14 up at the break, before Simon Hickey went into the sin bin and Johnny McNicholl ducked under the posts.

Edinburgh responded through Pierre Schoeman, though, and Mata crossed late on after Simon Gardiner was carded for Scarlets.

FT | @EdinburghRugby score five tries to secure a hard-earned bonus-point win against Conference B rivals @scarlets_rugby. [31-21]#EDIvSCA | #AlwaysEdinburgh pic.twitter.com/BtPYBQiu5d

— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) November 2, 2018

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