Glasgow Warriors’ chances of reaching the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals are hanging by a thread after they were defeated by La Rochelle in grizzly conditions at Scotstoun.

Without a win before today in Pool 2 and having lost at home to Glasgow last weekend, La Rochelle looked to be in for another tough afternoon when the home side’s hooker Fraser Brown was shoved over the line in a maul after a smart lineout move, with Adam Hastings adding the conversion.

But after that 15th-minute setback, they clawed their way back into the game. A precise grubber from Rieuc Plessis saw Jules Favre just about touch down in the corner, then Paul Boudehent’s sublime offload was the highlight in a move which saw Lepani Botia dart over from short range. Brock James converted this time.

Nick Grigg was somehow held up on the line as Glasgow exerted pressure but even when Alexei Bales was sin-binned for kicking the ball away in the scrum, the hosts just couldn’t break through.

Their momentum seemed to have subsided, until the 79th minute when Scott Cummings went over in the corner to spark scenes of jubilation.

However, the TMO had spotted something amiss in the build-up – it was Matt Fagerson leading with his forearm high into the throat of Marc Andreu, who needed treatment. The try was chalked off and Fagerson red carded. Glasgow’s chance had gone.