GREGOR Townsend was delighted as Glasgow managed to defend Fortress Scotstoun in a landmark win over Ospreys.

Having been undefeated in their previous 15 home games in the Guinness Pro12, the Warriors head coach knew his side would need to be at their best to stop second-placed Ospreys halting that run.
However, it would prove to be the latest in a long line of stunning results for Townsend’s team in front of a sell-out Glasgow crowd, with a Peter Horne penalty with just a few minutes remaining securing a crucial 19-16 victory.

It was a result that stretches the Scottish side’s lead at the top of the table to five points with just seven games remaining.
Townsend said: “It was a tremendous win. I thought going into the game that if we managed to win it would be one of our best for a number of seasons.
“In the first 20 minutes, our quality was really high and our pace and attitude were fantastic. Ospreys are a very good side. They kept on playing and kept on competing for contact, so we had to dig deep to get the win.
“It shows our depth, with Fraser Lyle and Ali Price outstanding at the heart of a lot of good rugby in the first half.”
Horne kicked an impressive four penalties and a conversion, and Townsend was very impressed by his performance and work-rate.
He added: “He did very well, he put a lot of pace into the game in the first half and had a brilliant ruck clear leading to Pat MacArthur’s try.
“He’s been really professional and hard working for the last two weeks.”
Glasgow now face important matches in the next few weeks against Munster and Leinster as they attempt to keep their momentum going while many of their top stars are on international duty.
Next up is a huge match at fifth-placed Munster’s Thomond Park on Saturday night, and Townsend is keen to maintain their lofty perch for their Scotland stars returning.
The Warriors head coach told the Glasgow website: “It’s very tight at the top, we play Munster in our next game and Leinster shortly after that, so we need to make sure we are still up there after the RBS 6 Nations.”
Meanwhile, Ospreys back coach Gruff Rees admitted his team could not cope with Glasgow’s whirlwind start at the weekend as the hosts claimed a 10-6 half-time lead.
He said: “Early on we were coming unstuck, Glasgow started physically and we struggled to match them, but all credit to the boys because we settled into it and applied ourselves well.
“Our set-piece was more solid than it has been, which allowed us to gain a foothold in the game, and the try was well worked off the back of good lineout ball.
“I felt that in the 10/15 minute period that followed us going ahead we were on the wrong end of some key decisions.
“We believe that there was a TMO referral that missed a degree of foul play, and the momentum swung against us again, unfortunately.”