Was this the season that got away for Glasgow Warriors?

Image source, SNSImage caption, Glasgow had an 18-point lead against the Bulls but fell to defeat on Saturday Surrendering a 21-3 lead to the Bulls, when a United Rugby Championship final spot was seemingly within their grasp, was indicative of a season that promised so much and failed to deliver for Glasgow Warriors. It has been a campaign with so many highs, so many moments that raised expectations of a truly special season, but one that has ultimately ended with no silverware to show for it. When referee Andrew Brace headed to the Bulls posts to award Glasgow a penalty try after the South Africans had illegally halted a maul headed for their line, it looked like the Scots were about to make a statement of intent. That third try added to two wonderfully constructed scores, both finished by captain Kyle Steyn, that had showcased Glasgow at their very best. Forwards and backs dovetailing magnificently, bludgeoning carries and beautiful hands asking questions of a defence which appeared to have no answer. At that stage, with 25 minutes on the clock and an 18-point lead, it looked like the Warriors were going to win at a canter. Little did we know that third try was the last time they would trouble the scoreboard. Glasgow stunned by Bulls fightback in URC semi-final Published4 hours agoReaction & have your say on Warriors' defeat 'Glasgow's season ends with damp squib'"I'm struggling to figure out if it was a vastly improved second half by the Bulls, which it probably was, or whether Glasgow just fell away entirely," former Glasgow and Scotland back row Johnnie Beattie said on BBC Radio Scotland. "When Glasgow were on their game, they shredded them. "In the second period, when they dropped off by 10-15%, the Bulls were allowed back into the game. They didn't have to do much. Handre Pollard missed nine points from the tee. "Lots of questions for Glasgow, and their season comes to an end with a damp squib. They had the game in their hands and they've let it slip." The Bulls had looked beleaguered as they were bamboozled by Glasgow's slick attacking shapes, but it's to their credit they hung in the fight and then wrestled the contest in their favour. Just as Warriors had made hay when Pollard was given 10 minutes in the bin for a deliberate knock-on – both Steyn's tries came in that period – so the Bulls responded in kind. Embrose Papier and Francois Klopper crossed for scores as Scott Cummings watched on from the sidelines after receiving a yellow card. In his absence, Glasgow could not keep the Bulls from the door, and could not find a way back once they fell behind. Listen on SoundsThe season that got away for GlasgowThe second-half performance bore many of the hallmarks of the Champions Cup quarter-final defeat by Toulon, when Glasgow were sucked into the type of game they did not want to play. That loss against the French giants blew a golden chance for Franco Smith's side to reach a European Cup semi-final for the first time. And, after faltering in the URC semis having topped the regular-season standings, it all adds up to a huge opportunity missed. "It's a weird feeling because obviously there's been so much good stuff this season," Glasgow flanker Rory Darge told BBC Scotland. "There are so many parts we're grateful for and so many good nights, good wins together. "That is just what kind of makes it harder now because you honour that at the business end of the season on days like today. "It looked like for all money we were going to do that and we're gutted with just the way we went in the second half." Contact formContact formAfter the loss of key players such as Tom Jordan, Seb Cancelliere and Henco Venter last summer, many wondered if Glasgow would be able to remain a competitive force this season in the hunt for trophies. Delivering a perfect Champions Cup pool stage with four bonus-point wins – including stunning victories over Toulouse and Saracens – and topping the URC table in many ways was over-shooting the runway in terms of expectations. "We worked really hard this season, fought back after we have had some difficulties regarding international players and injuries," Franco Smith told BBC Scotland. "To still finish top on the log was an important milestone for us and to have played this game here in front of so many fans is obviously remarkable. "Would we have wanted to go one more? Yes. But I'm really proud of the season and the way that the boys played. "We started the season and I said we only have 38 pros and we don't have enough international foreigners. Despite that we still finished top, we still won as many games as we did. We just fell short." Now with the likes of Huw Jones, Jack Dempsey, Adam Hastings and others heading for the Scotstoun exit this summer, the question is whether Glasgow will be able to rebuild and go again next season. Reaching the heights they have in this campaign will be a big ask. It feels like this season is the one that got away.

Was this the season that got away for Glasgow Warriors?

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