Muddy marvels cruise to impressive win in Parma
ZEBRE 7 GLASGOW WARRIORS 31
Dave Rennie’s muddy marvels stepped up their Pro14 revival by demolishing Zebre on their own patch.
The Warriors – boosted by the return of more World Cup men – didn’t let the quagmire in Parma foil their quest for a full haul of points.
And now boss Rennie can switch his focus to their European Champions Cup opener against Sale Sharks at Scotstoun on Saturday. Glasgow playmaker Adam Hastings last night admitted to having mixed emotions in the wake of the win.
Man of the Match Hastings said: “It was the result we wanted – but we were far too sloppy at times.
“We definitely left a few tries out there, but all credit to Zebre for battling all the way.
“They really tested us in the second half and we had to work hard to deal with them.
“Of course, we are happy to claim a bonus point away from home. However, we will have to be much better when we take on Sale next weekend.”
The greasy and uneven surface turned the opening exchanges into a lottery with both sides making plenty of basic and unforced errors.
Glasgow were first to find some fluency and they surged ahead in the 12th minute – thanks to the alertness of George Horne.
The scrum-half spotted a gap when his side were awarded a penalty and wriggled over from close-range before the hosts could set their defensive line.
Hastings confidently added the conversion from a tricky angle.
Warriors kept up the momentum, but all too often they wasted possession with inaccurate positional kicking from Hastings.
But midway through the half, Horne completed his double as he finished clinically following a charge by Fraser Brown. Zebre came more into the picture in the build up to the interval, however Glasgow’s disciplined defence blocked them out.
And their hard work was rewarded in the 37th minute when Hastings squeezed in for touchdown No. 3 at the end of a multi-phase sequence – following up with an accurate strike to make it a seven-pointer.
The all-important fourth score came during the opening raid of the second half.
Again, Warriors maintained their patient approach and it was winger Ratu Tagive who skipped through with ease for his second counter in successive weeks.
Zebre’s misery deepened when flanker Johan Meyer was shown a straight red bywelsh ref Ian Davies for a dangerous shoulder-first entry to a ruck.
And with then bonus point in the bag, coach Rennie emptied his bench.
Despite being down to 14 men, the hosts refused to buckle completely and substitute Pierre Bruno pulled back a try, goaled by Carlo Canna.
With Glasgow’s level of intensity dropping, Zebre sensed the chance of mounting a dramatic late fightback – especially with George Turner in the sin-bin.
But Nick Frisby had the last word with No 5 for the visitors – Ruairdh Jackson converting.