Darge 'gutted' as Glasgow fail to 'honour' impressive season

Top of the league standings before the play-offs, four wins from four in the Champions Cup group stage - it all seemed to be set up for a monumental season at Glasgow.

>Instead, the Warriors have ended their campaign empty-handed after a disappointing showing against Toulon was followed a few weeks later by a second-half collapse against the Bulls.

>It had all started so well against their Pretorian opposition at Murrayfield. The Bulls had seen two men sent to the sin bin as Glasgow raced into a 21-3 lead that was more than well deserved.

>But they failed to add to their tally in a second-half display that was reminiscent of the lacklustre performance against Toulon, where they failed to really fire a shot.

>"We're retty gutted," said an obviously deflated Rory Darge at full time. "We started so well, and second half you saw the importance of the physical side of the game. That's what they pride themselves on.

>"And then what happened in the second half happened. To build up a score like that and then to lose it, it's a tough one."

>What had made the season all the more impressive until now was the depths Glasgow had dragged themselves from to set up the Murrayfield showdown.

>Beleaguered at times this season with injuries and international call-offs - something Franco Smith took aim at in his post-match interview - the Warriors had still been able to magic up results out of thin air.

>It all led to finishing first after the regular season ended, setting up a 'home' run to the final at Murrayfield - but Smith's side ran out of legs when it mattered.

>"It's a weird feeling because there's been so much good stuff this season," Darge reflected. "We'll look back at the good bits but to not honour it at the business end is frustrating.

>"We'll look back at a few big moments. There were a few times at the breakdown that hurt us. We knew it was a threat and we dealt with it at the start. Credit to the Bulls, it's well deserved."