Glasgow's United Rugby Championships hopes end with semi-final defeat against Bulls

Glasgow squandered a 21-3 lead as their United Rugby Championship hopes died with a 22-21 semi-final defeat by the Bulls at Murrayfield.

The South Africans, who seized control in the second half after being dominated in the opening half hour, will visit either Leinster or Stormers in the final on June 20.

Bulls got the scoreboard up and running with a seventh-minute Handre Pollard penalty but the stand-off was swiftly sent to the sin bin for a deliberate knock-on.

Glasgow took full advantage as captain Kyle Steyn ran in two tries within the space of five minutes on the right, both converted by Dan Lancaster.

Glasgow remained in the ascendancy after Pollard’s return to the fray and they were awarded a penalty try in the 25th minute after Ruan Nortje collapsed the maul. The Bulls lock was sent to the sin bin.

The 14-man visitors got themselves back in the game in the 32nd minute when Johan Grobbelaar pushed over from close range after a sustained spell of pressure. Pollard converted to make it 21-10 at the break.

The Bulls stepped up their fightback after the break and got their noses in front through close-range scores from Embrose Papier and Francois Klopper while Glasgow lock Scott Cummings was in the sin bin.

Pollard missed three penalties in the final quarter but Bulls never looked in danger of letting their one-point lead slip.