Glasgow qualified for the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup, the first Scottish side to do so, when they defeated Ulster at Scotstoun Stadium yesterday. It was an edgy victory. The Glaswegians showed nervousness, especially at the start, but in the end, even if the result was only judged on trys, the Scots deserved their victory by three trys to nil.

Glasgow's next match will be away to Leicester on November 2nd or 3rd, after the narrow 29-28 win by Wasps against Swansea in the other match in their section. Ulster started well against a hesitant Glasgow with Stuart Laing, a Scotland A cap, putting them in front with a penalty after six minutes. Glasgow's Cook Islands stand-off, Tommy Hayes, equalised with a similar award three minutes later.

The visitors were by far the sharper team at this stage but they were making too many mistakes when in possession. Maurice Field made a spectacular break but was eventually hauled down.

After 21 minutes Glasgow took the lead. Following a long touch kick to play to the Ulster line, Glasgow were held on the line, two Ulster defenders were caught well off side interfering with play and a penalty try was awarded which Hayes converted.

Flanker Andy Ward was prominent for Ulster, who had the advantage territorially over the first half an hour. But after another successful Hayes penalty, which took the score to 13-3, disaster struck the Ulstermen.

Scottish international rightwinger Derek Stark made a break and passed to leftwinger James Craig who had appeared outside him. Craig was stopped on the line but with the Glasgow pack in support. Scrum half Fraser Stott went over for the try which Hayes again converted.

Three minutes later a break by Chris Sinners was carried on by Stark and then by Hayes for a fine try which he also converted for a 27-3 lead and although Laing kicked a second penalty for Ulster, immediately before the interval, Glasgow were fortunate to be so far ahead at half time.

In an error-strewn second half, in which neither line was in serious danger, Laing kicked three penalties for Ulster and Hayes one for Glasgow for the Scots to complete their double over Ulster.