European Rugby Champions Cup: Glasgow far too strong for Bath

Niko Matawalu: Scored the try which gave Glasgow a bonus point

Glasgow Warriors continued their impressive start to the season with a 37-10 win over Bath in their European Rugby Champions Cup clash at Scotstoun Stadium.

The Scottish side have won five of their first six matches in the Guinness PRO12 and carried that strong form over into European competition.

Mark Bennett scored two tries for the hosts while Sean Maitland, Tommy Seymour and Niko Matawalu also crossed the line in a bonus-point success.

Bath grabbed the lead early in the first half through a Jonathan Joseph try but Glasgow soon overwhelmed the visitors in the Pool 4 clash.

The away side made the better start and opened the scoring when fly-half George Ford knocked over a penalty after Glasgow had collapsed a scrum in midfield.

But Glasgow managed to cross the whitewash with their first attacking move of any threat, Bennett darting between two tacklers to dot down under the posts and Duncan Weir adding the extras.

Fumble

The lead proved to be short-lived as moments later full-back Stuart Hogg fumbled a high ball from Ford and Joseph was on hand to kick ahead before gathering the ball and sliding in, with Ford converting.

But those were to be the last points Bath scored, the match soon turning back in Glasgow’s favour when Weir slotted over two penalties.

The Warriors stretched their advantage when Seymour brilliantly collected an up and under from Henry Pyrgos to send Maitland crashing over in the corner for an unconverted score.

The lively Seymour then extended the Glasgow lead in the 35th minute, touching down after being set free from a tap free-kick from the quick-thinking Pyrgos. Weir missed the conversion.

The Warriors led 23-10 at the interval and even though Bath, who lost Kyle Eastmond to injury in the first half, enjoyed a decent spell after the break, the home side did not have to fend off a serious comeback.

With 15 minutes remaining, replacement Tim Swinson turned over the ball in midfield, presenting possession to fellow substitute Matawalu, who chipped ahead before gathering himself and seeing off the covering tackle to score the bonus-point try.

Weir made no mistake with his conversion attempt from tight on the touchline and also added the extras when Bennett collected a chip from DTH Van der Merwe to grab his second try of the game.