Glasgow 45-10 Zebre: Warriors maintain top four hopes with comfortable win
By PA Sport
Last Updated: 14/04/17 10:21pm
Glasgow's second string maintained the club's 100 per cent record against Zebre with a comfortable 45-10 win that keeps alive their chances of making the top four in the Guinness PRO12.
Although Glasgow started with only two of the team that faced Munster last week they were never in danger of losing to a Zebre side which itself showed 10 changes and was further disrupted by early injuries.
Glasgow had the bonus point in the bag by half-time, with tries from Nick Grigg, Pete Murchie, Rob Harley and Matt Fagerson - all converted by Pete Horne - putting them 28-0 up.
Three more tries were added in the second half as Sam Johnson crossed before 20-year-old replacement flanker Matt Smith notched twice in the final 18 minutes.
Only one of those three tries were converted but it mattered little as second-bottom Zebre, whose points came from Kayle van Zyl and Kurt Baker tries late on, were completely outclassed.
Zebre kicked off but within seven minutes had to replace scrum-half Carlo Englebrecht plus lock and captain Valerio Bernabo. More problems arrived with the loss of fly-half Serafin Bordoli in the 33rd minute, which required a mass rearrangement of the back line.
By that time, though, Zebre already trailed by 28 points and the Warriors had both the win and bonus point wrapped up.
Centre Grigg grabbed Glasgow's first try in the 10th minute following phase play and eight minutes later full back Murchie cut into the line and was allowed to plough on for a second score.
A long break by Johnson, back in the side after injury, set up the position for Harley's try in the 26th minute as Glasgow took complete control.
Teenage No 8 Fagerson, on his first start, was then sent in for Glasgow's fourth try by flanker Chris Fusaro to complete a blistering opening half-hour by the hosts.
Zebre, who had won their previous two PRO12 matches, opened the second half with their first prolonged period in the home 22, but they could make nothing of it.
Glasgow thought they had increased their lead when winger Rory Hughes crossed, only for the effort to be chalked off for obstruction.
The hosts would not be denied moments later, though, as a move started on the Zebre 10 metres line by Fusaro ended with Johnson battling over.
Smith weighed in with a brace of touch downs to add gloss to the victory, although fellow replacement George Horne failed with both conversions.
All Zebre had to show for their efforts were tries in the 67th and 79th minutes from Van Zyl and fit-again replacement Baker.
