A much-changed Glasgow gave their most disjointed performance of the season but Peter Horne’s four penalties and a man of the match return from British Lion Ryan Grant produced the Guinness PRO12 victory over Treviso at Scotstoun last night.
Apart from the one flowing move involving five players that produced a try for an otherwise off-colour Niko Matawalu, there was none of Glasgow’s slick rugby of the last few weeks and they were continually unsettled by Treviso’s aggressive defence.
The team at the bottom of the PRO12 had a penalty chance to take the lead midway through the second half but missed, and when replacement prop Alfred Anae was red-carded with 12 minuytes remaining for an off-the-ball incident their chances of a shock dissolved in the driving rain.
Horne missed three kicks but was on target with two penalties in the last ten minutes which confirmed the victory which means the Warriors stay second behind leaders Ospreys in the PRO12 table.
So many changes to the Warriors line-up brought a predictable lack of continuity in the first half, although scrummage domination brought three penalties withy Ryan Grant making a notable impact on his return after shoulder surgery.
Peter Horne topped his first penalty attempt but it was his incisive run out of defence that sparked the opening try after 20 fairly nondescript opening minutes.
The fly-half made ground before spinning a pass to Ryan Wilson who combined with Josh Strauss and Leone Nakarawa in confined space up the touchline sending Peter Murchie racing into space. The full-back gave the supporting Matawalu a clear run to the line for the unconverted score.
Horne added his first penalty and a second as heavy pressure on the Treviso line brought a yellow card for centre Michele Campagnaro, but Jayden Hayward booted two penalties for the Italians to keep them in hailing distance at half-time as Glasgow coughed up too much ball.
Treviso continued to defend aggressively against a strangely passive Warriors in the second half and got due reward when Hayward kicked a third penalty to draw them within two points two minutes after the restart.
Glasgow continued to misfire despite dominating possession and when Matawalu was penalised for contesting at a ruck Hayward had an awkward chance to put Treviso ahead, but for the first time he was off target.
Treviso’s hopes of producing the shock of the PRO12 season vanished when referee Ian Davies sent off replacement prop Agae, on the field for barely 10 minutes, for swinging a punch at matawalu off the ball.
That stirred Glasgow to win another penalty at the scrummage near the left touchline, and Horne made the penalty to give them some breathing space.
Treviso’s defence continued to hold the home side at bay and it was Glasghow’s smothering tackling that forced another penalty with three minutes left, Horne successful to ensure that the points were staying at Scotstoun.
Att: 5901
Glasgow Warriors: Peter Murchie; Lee Jones, Richie Vernon, James Downey (Connor Braid 71), DTH van der Merwe; Peter Horne, Niko Matawalu (Murray McConnell 76); Ryan Grant (Alex Allan 70), Pat MacArthur (Dougie Hall 50), Rossouw de Klerk (Zander Fagerson 71); Tom Ryder (Will Bordill 75), Leone Nakarawa; Josh Strauss (capt), Chris Fusaro, Ryan Wilson (James Eddie 50).
Benetton Treviso: Jayden Hayward; Simone Ragusi, Michele Campagnaro, Enrico Bacchin, Ludovico Nitoglia; Samuel Christie, Alberto Lucchese (James Ambrosini 58); Matteo Zanusso (Afred Anae 53), Davide Giazzon, Salesi Manu (Rupert Harden 40); Tomas Vallejos, Corniel Van Zyl; Simon Favaro (Marco Barbini 70), Alessandro Zanni (capt, Matt Luamanu 71), Francesco Minto.
Ref: I Davies (WRU)