STUART Hogg struck the winning drop goal six minutes from time as Dave Rennie’s Glasgow Warriors claimed a third straight opening-day victory over Connacht at the Sportsground.

First-half tries from Tommy Seymour, George Turner and Ryan Wilson kept Warriors in touch at the interval, and despite having Adam Hastings sin-binned in the second period, Adam Ashe’s try and Hogg’s kick gave Warriors the spoils.

Connacht had a late chance to clinch the win but Craig Ronaldson’s long-range penalty grazed the post and Warriors held on.

“That was a cracking game,” said Hogg. “We thoroughly enjoyed that but we didn’t make it easy on ourselves at times. But credit to the boys we held on to win.

“The boys will tell you I miss most of those kicks in training. I saw the opportunity as a shot to nothing more than anything. The boys got me into that position to kick it.”

Coach Dave Rennie was equally delighted.

“We’re rapt. We did a lot of good stuff first half but we lacked a little bit of patience,” he said. “Maybe we tried to move the ball a little bit too wide too quickly at times and ended up turning it over.

“To Connacht’s credit they kept coming and every time they got down our end they got rewarded.

“We showed a lot of character to go down to 14 men and nine points behind on the scoreboard. To win that period when Adam was sin-binned by 10 points, obviously that was crucial.”

Warriors could hardly have hoped to have got off to a better start when they crossed for their first try of the season after just one minute and three seconds. It was quick, accurate hands across the line from Peter Horne and Nick Grigg that picked out Hogg, who chipped through for Seymour to score in the right corner.

Despite the early setback Connacht soon settled and Jack Carty got them on the board after 12 minutes when a Connacht maul was collapsed.

DTH van der Merwe was unfortunate to carry a Carty kick into touch in his own 22, and it turned out to be a costly error as the home side scored off the back of the line-out when Carty’s cross-field kick was on the money to pick out Cian Kelleher for the try. Carty’s conversion put Connacht 10-5 ahead.

Throughout the first half Hogg’s restarts caused trouble for Andy Friend’s side and after they forced a line-out a quick throw from van der Merwe set Warriors on the way to their second try. Connacht will wonder where the defence at the side of their ruck disappeared to though as Turner cantered over for the try, which Horne converted.

Warriors will question their own defence that led to Connacht’s second try in the 22nd minute. Ultan Dillane had carried well all day and when he showed close to the Warriors line the defence was turned his way, but a skip ball saw Finlay Bealham go through the gap to score as Connacht reclaimed the lead.

Jonny Gray was denied a try when the TMO judged he hadn’t grounded the ball but one finally came when co-captain Ryan Wilson crossed. Horne missed the simple conversion after a Connacht player rushed his kick, which left the game tied 17-17.

But Warriors were to rue the final six minutes of the half when the concession of silly penalties from Rob Harley and an off-side infringement allowed Carty to land two penalties for a 23-17 interval lead.

Carty struck again two minutes after the break as he punished another off-side penalty with his sixth successful kick to stretch Connacht’s lead to 26-17.

Both teams had the chance to add to their tally from attacking line-outs, but it didn’t take the Warriors coach long to call for Australian international scrum-half Nick Frisby for his debut and he brought his experience and impressive box kicking to the fray.

However, it was his partner, Hastings, at half-back that drew the attention of the home supporters after

58 minutes when his high tackle on Caolin Blade earned him a yellow card, although Carty was off target for the first time from the penalty.

But even reduced to 14 players Warriors hit back. A stunning long penalty kick from Hogg pinned Connacht back on their own line, and at the second attempt replacement Adam Ashe scored off the maul and Hogg converted to make it 26-24.

It looked as if the home side would hold on after they repelled 28 phases of Glasgow pressure in their own 22, but six minutes from time Hogg’s drop goal sealed the win.

Scorers: Connacht: Try: Kelleher (15), Bealham (22). Cons: Carty (17, 23). Pen: Carty (12, 35, 42, 43). Glasgow: Try: Seymour (2), Turner (19), Wilson (32), Ashe (65). Con: Hastings (19), Hogg (66). Dropgoal; Hogg (73).

Connacht: T O’Halloran (N Adeolokun 53); C Kelleher, K Godwin, T Farrell, M Healy; J Carty (C Ronaldson 66), C Blade (J Mitchell 75); D Buckley (P McCabe 53), D Heffernan (S Delahunt 75), F Bealham (C Carey 56); U Dillane, J Cannon (Q Roux 48); P Boyle, J Butler , E McKeon ( C Gallagher 14).

Glasgow: S Hogg; T Seymour, N Grigg, P Horne (A Dunbar 56), DTH Van Der Merwe (N Matawalu 53); A Hastings, G Horne (N Frisby 48); O Kebble (A Allan 56), G Turner (F Brown 48), Z Fagerson (D Rae 72); S Cummings (C Fusaro 52(R Wilson 79, blood)), J Gray; R Harley, C Gibbins, R Wilson (A Ashe 63).

Referee: Ian Davies (WRU).